Category Archives: MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
DfE Reiterates Guidance on Post-Primary School Transfers
On March 23, Darren Jones, Labour MP for Bristol North West, and Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee asked the Secretary of State for Education: “whether his Department has plans for summer-born children to be given automatic … Continue reading
Summer Born Admissions and A New Normal Post-Coronavirus
Before the COVID-19 crisis, many parents of summer born children had unanswered questions, unresolved battles, ongoing concerns about their children’s education, and worries about their children’s social and emotional well being. With the government’s effective closure of schools and nurseries, … Continue reading
MP Requests Debate on Changes to School Admissions Code
On March 12th, Stephen Hammond, Conservative MP for Wimbledon asked: “The Government are rightly committed to levelling up and creating opportunities. Two small changes to the admissions code would change the life chances of so many summer-born children. Could we … Continue reading
What are the “unintended consequences” of CSAge entry?
An exchange between Stephen Hammond MP and Schools Minister Nick Gibb, during a House of Commons debate on Monday, highlighted their shared concern that flexibility for summer born children entering school Reception class at CSAge might have “unintended consequences”.
School Admissions Code Consultation Launches Autumn 2019
In answer to a DfE written question on July 8th, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, Lord Agnew of Oulton, said “a public consultation… will be launched in the autumn.” It has been almost 4 years since Nick Gibb, … Continue reading
DfE ‘Remains Committed to Summer Born CSAge Reception Class Admission’
This was a Q&A on summer born admissions in Parliament yesterday (Hansard HC Deb, 4 June 2018, cW): Tracy Brabin Shadow Minister (Education) “To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in the … Continue reading
Nick Gibb MP Repeats 2015 Admissions Assurances But Parents Awaiting Action
Numerous media outlets are reporting the Schools Minister Nick Gibb’s comments at the British Library this week; e.g. The Telegraph’s Parents of summer born children will be allowed to start school aged five, minister says Education Editor Camilla Turner reports that he said, … Continue reading
MP Requests Update on Cost Assessment – Campaign Suggests Useful Links
Stephen Hammond, Conservative MP for Wimbledon To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress the Minister of State for School Standards has made on assessing the potential costs of changing the Schools Admissions Code to provide more flexibility for … Continue reading
DfE Disappoints and Digresses – Again
Despite the valiant efforts by MPs who fully support the Summer Born Campaign (thank you @S_Hammond, @JimShannonMP and @timloughton), Nick Gibb MP delivered a disappointing (and for many parents, devastating) response to their questions about when the DfE’s promised new Code consultation will … Continue reading
Due Date Demands Add Unnecessary Administration to Summer Born Admissions
The Summer Born Campaign has said this before and will say it again – if ALL summer born children are given the AUTOMATIC RIGHT to enter Reception class at CSAge, this will include those children born prematurely in the months of … Continue reading
Summer Born Adjournment Debate in Parliament Tonight
Thank you to Stephen Hammond, Conservative MP for Wimbledon, who has arranged an adjournment debate tonight on the subject of the School Admissions Code for summer born children and children born prematurely. Mr. Hammond says he “will be raising the postcode lottery … Continue reading
Why does the Education Secretary’s Definition of ‘Summer Born’ Differ..?
On September 14, the issue of summer born children was raised by Michelle Donelan MP during an Education Committee public evidence session, as part of its inquiry into the responsibilities of the Education Secretary. In response, Ms Justine Greening referred to summer born children as those born … Continue reading
Important News: Lord Nash now Responsible for Admissions in DfE Ministerial Update
Following Theresa May becoming Prime Minister, the DfE has announced its final ministerial team, and moved responsibility for admissions to Lord Nash. In February 2016, Lord Nash wrote this in answer to a Parliamentary question on admissions, which the Summer Born Campaign agrees … Continue reading
Campaign Update and MP Support
One month ago, on July 6, Michelle Melson wrote to the Chair of the Education Committee, while I wrote to the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, and the DfE, to ask a number of questions related to the long delay in announcing the promised School Admissions Code … Continue reading
Nick Gibb to Remain Schools Minister
Good news for the Summer Born Campaign. It’s been confirmed today that Nick Gibb will retain his position as Minister of State for Schools in Prime Minister Theresa May’s cabinet shuffle. You can read more in the TES and Schools Week reports.
Minister’s Letter Highlights Again the Importance of Legal Semantics
In September 2015, when the Schools Minister Nick Gibb published an open letter urging admission authorities to allow entry to Reception class at CASge for summer born children, I highlighted the importance of the next School Admissions Code ensuring its legal wording is absolutely … Continue reading
‘Immediate Action’ Irony Given DfE Delay
Ten months ago (a significant amount of time in a child’s life, and a whole primary school admissions cycle that left hopeful parents once more distraught and disheartened), the Schools Minister Nick Gibb published an open letter announcing the DfE’s proposed changes to summer born admission … Continue reading
Cambridgeshire MP Supports Summer Born Children
There are a number of councils (and schools) in England that are stubbornly refusing to implement the Schools Minister’s call for action in September 2015, to allow summer born children to enter Reception class at CSAge if this is their … Continue reading
An Overseas Perspective – Letter to Stephen Hammond MP
As a former resident of Surrey, I have written the letter below to Stephen Hammond MP, as per his invitation via Twitter yesterday. Dear Stephen Hammond MP, I applied for a Reception class place for my summer born son at … Continue reading
MP Asks For Summer Born Stories
Stephen Hammond, Conservative MP for Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Morden & Motspur Park, has asked parents of summer born children to email him with their experiences of trying to arrange Reception class entry at CSAge (i.e. the Postcode Lottery), ahead of another proposed … Continue reading
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