School Standards Minister questioned on Government support for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils
11 March 2022
As part of its ongoing inquiry into the education challenges facing children and young people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds, the Government’s Minister of State for School Standards will answer questions on the Government plans to help improve educational attainment for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) students, who are almost 3 years behind White British pupils at GCSE.
- Watch Parliament TV: Education challenges facing children and young people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds
- Inquiry: Education challenges facing children and young people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds
- Education Committee
Witness
- Robin Walker MP, Minister for School Standards, Department for Education
Research has found that bullying and racism from both students and teachers contributes to GRT students leaving formal education. MPs will examine how the Department of Education plans to combat this. The Committee will also scrutinise the Government’s promise to reduce digital exclusion, and how this may impact GRT families, just 38% of whom have home internet access.
The Minister is also expected to answer questions on the Government’s post-covid education catch-up programme. The Committee’s recent report, Is the Catch up Programme fit for purpose, found that disadvantaged pupils are facing an 'epidemic' of educational inequality and recommended that the Government should cancel its multi-million pound deal with Randstad unless it can prove that its National Tutoring Programme is operating effectively.
Further information
Image: Parliamentary copyright