Written questions by Shannon.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the use of mobile phones in classrooms on pupil (a) attainment and (b) behaviour.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of qualified teachers for modern foreign languages in secondary schools.

Awaiting answer.

What additional funding has been allocated to local authorities to support pupils with special educational needs in the last three years.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of financial pressures on universities in England.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

How many students from disadvantaged backgrounds entered higher education in the most recent academic year.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What steps her Department is taking to support universities with financial sustainability.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What the most recent national rate of persistent pupil absence is in state-funded schools.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What steps she is taking to support schools in tackling pupil absenteeism.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of mental health support services for pupils in secondary schools.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What steps her Department is taking to improve ventilation and air quality in school buildings.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What the average level of student debt is for graduates who attended institutions regulated by the Office for Students.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What the vacancy rate is for teaching posts in secondary schools in England.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.Information on the school workforce in England, including the vacancy rate for teaching posts and the retention rate for teachers in state-funded schools, is published in the ‘School workforce in England’ statistical publication, which can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england/2024.The teacher vacancy rate for full and part-time posts in secondary schools decreased to 6 per 1,000 teachers in service in November 2024, the latest figures available, from a peak of 8 per 1,000 teachers in November 2023.Over two thirds (67.7%) of teachers who qualified in 2019/20 were still teaching five years later in 2024/25.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of inflation on school budgets in this academic year.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.Every year, the department publishes the ‘Schools’ costs technical note’, which analyses mainstream schools’ funding and costs, taking into account the impact of inflation, for the current and future financial years.

How many schools in England required emergency financial support from her Department in the most recent financial year.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only The department publishes details of academy trusts receiving funding support as an annex to the ‘Academies sector annual report and accounts’.The department sets robust expectations for how trusts should manage their finances effectively. Trusts must have the financial, leadership and management capacity to plan appropriately and act in the best interests of their pupils.Where a trust experiences financial difficulty, the department will take a robust approach. In a small number of cases, as a last resort, a trust may require additional funding to secure long-term educational sustainability. This support carries strict conditions and is typically accompanied with a notice to improve, setting out conditions the trust must meet to avoid further intervention. The department has the power to terminate a trust’s funding agreement if there is a serious breakdown in management or governance.Local authorities are responsible for overseeing the financial management and additional financial support for maintained schools.

How many school rebuilding projects are underway under the school rebuilding programme.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only. We are investing almost £20 billion into the School Rebuilding Programme through to 2034/35, to rebuild over 750 schools and sixth-form colleges across England. There are over 500 schools already in the programme, with well over half in delivery, and the department is currently identifying a further 250 schools to add to the programme. As of February 2026, we have worked with schools and Responsible Bodies to rebuild 51 schools through the School Rebuilding Programme, with 39 of these completed since July 2024.

What steps her Department is taking to support schools with deficits under the national funding formula.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of workload on teacher retention rates.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The department is working closely with the sector to reduce workload and improve retention. This includes developing opportunities for more flexible working, such as allowing planning, preparation and assessment time to be undertaken remotely, and making resources to support workload and wellbeing available through our improve workload and wellbeing for school staff service.Our interventions have helped improve retention with the latest data showing one of the lowest leaver rates on record, with 1,700 fewer teachers leaving the state-funded sector in 2023/24 compared to the year before, and more teachers returning to state schools than at any point in the last ten years.We are going further with the introduction of the Child Poverty Strategy, the introduction of our strategy for giving every child the best start in life, reform to children’s social care, and the expansion of access to specialist mental health professionals. These measures will enhance teachers’ day-to-day experience and strengthen their ability to deliver. We are also supporting schools to use technology effectively.

How many teachers left the profession within five years of qualifying in the most recent year for which data is available.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.Information on the school workforce in England, including the vacancy rate for teaching posts and the retention rate for teachers in state-funded schools, is published in the ‘School workforce in England’ statistical publication, which can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england/2024.The teacher vacancy rate for full and part-time posts in secondary schools decreased to 6 per 1,000 teachers in service in November 2024, the latest figures available, from a peak of 8 per 1,000 teachers in November 2023.Over two thirds (67.7%) of teachers who qualified in 2019/20 were still teaching five years later in 2024/25.

Whether children in rural schools have equitable access to advanced STEM programs.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The department is committed to ensuring that all pupils, including those in rural schools, have access to high‑quality science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education. All our STEM programmes can be accessed across England, regardless of location.The department funds a range of programmes for teachers to support STEM education, including the Subject Knowledge for Physics Teaching programme, the National Centre for Computing Education, and the Advanced Maths Support Programme (AMSP).For pupils, the AMSP offers the Maths into Data Science and artificial intelligence programme, an online, assessed course for post-16 learners.The government continues to fund the STEM Ambassadors programme, a nationwide network of more than 28,000 volunteers registered from over 7,500 employers, reaching over 3 million young people every year. These volunteers engage with young people to spark interest in STEM subjects and showcase the wide variety of STEM careers by sharing their personal experiences.

How schools are encouraged to teach students about the long-term environmental impact of human activity.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The Curriculum and Assessment Review recommended an enhanced focus on climate education and sustainability, with detailed engagement and earlier sequencing in subjects such as geography, science, design and technology, and citizenship. The government has accepted these recommendations and is committed to improving climate education in the national curriculum.Curriculum content is only part of the picture, and the method of teaching also has an important role to play through the use of climate and nature related resources.The National Education Nature Park provides free, quality‑assured, curriculum‑aligned resources, filterable by key stage. By participating in the National Education Nature Park and developing robust climate action plans, schools can help children and young people see real-world connections to their studies.