Jill Mortimer MP attended Education Questions in the Commons on Monday 29 January, to question Schools Minister, Damien Hinds MP, on Hartlepool’s rising number of absent children.
Hartlepool has seen a dramatic increase in registered home-schooled children, a figure which has tripled since 2019. This figure has fallen after surging during the pandemic, but any child missing out on a fair education is a concern.
Beyond parents electing to educate their own children, there are also a number of ‘ghost’ pupils, who are repeatedly marked as absent from school.
The Conservative government are making sure children and young people can access a world-class education.
The increasing number of children not attending Hartlepool’s schools comes as it was revealed 90% of the schools in Hartlepool have scored good or outstanding in Ofsted reports under the Conservative government.
Making sure local children and young people are attending these world-leading centres of education is therefore an important responsibility for parents, as every child should have a fair start in life to set them up to enter the world of employment.
Speaking after her question, Jill Mortimer MP said:
“I am proud to belong to a government which is cracking down on child absence.
“Education is key to receiving a good start in life. It opens the door to opportunity and potential, especially thanks to the huge upgrades educational providers have received over the last 14 years of consecutive Conservative governments.
“90% of schools across Hartlepool now score good or outstanding under Ofsted, and so it’s even more important we make sure all children entitled to this world-leading education are receiving it."