Damian Hinds’ first challenge at this morning’s session was to answer a detailed series of questions about school admissions; specifically the barriers faced by vulnerable children.
Labour MP Lucy Powell - who reminded Mr Hinds a couple of times to “call me Lucy” instead of the more formal “Ms Powell” - asked whether he would look at measuring schools on how inclusive they are.
“We’ve just started a review of exclusions,” he reminded her. “…I don’t think that heads want to be excluding pupils at all. Those with the most disadvantaged backgrounds, in my experience those are the pupils who schools want to be giving the maximum amount of help to.”
It wouldn’t be the only time he would decline to answer a direct question by the Manchester Central MP - or her fellow committee members.
Later, she asked whether Ofsted should be given greater powers to inspect multi-academy trusts, to strengthen the oversight of academy chains.
Mr Hinds reeled off the various roles carried out by players like Ofsted and the Department for Education.
“We know the roles, I’m just asking if they can inspect MATs,” said Ms Powell, sounding impatient.
He went onto explain his role and that of the Education and Skills Funding Agency. “Yep, yep,” chivvied Ms Powell. He informed her that the schools that were part of the failed Wakefield City Academies Trust were involved in a process “known as rebrokering”.
This was too much for the Labour MP. “So just, sorry to keep intervening but we have looked at these issues quite carefully and we’re not talking about how one handles it once those problems have arisen, it’s about how can we avoid those problems happening in the first place,” she told him.
She added: “I ask again. Will you, in the spirit of openness and honesty will you look at a more joined up robust oversight regime and ensure that staff parents and pupils have a much clearer route to giving those warning signs and having their voices heard?”
Mr Hinds provided another lengthy answer, but it wasn’t what she was looking for.
“OK, it sounds like you’re not going to do a great deal on that,” concluded Ms Powell. Mr Hinds took a long sip of water in preparation for the next onslaught of questions.
While the exchange may have been uncomfortable for the education secretary, it was clearly enjoyed by some Twitter users watching online.
As the hearing went on, other tweeters accused Mr Hinds of “obfuscation”. Was he mishearing the MPs, was he reluctant to answer them, or was he simply thrown by the line of questioning? Under Robert Halfon’s chairmanship, this committee is putting social justice at the centre of its work, which means topics that might otherwise have struggled to get much of an airing at a session like this - looked-after children, alternative provision, apprenticeships, childcare costs - are taking centre stage.
But surely, given recent news stories, he could have expected questions about off-rolling and home education. Labour MP Ian Mearns pointed out that: “It’s quite clear that an awful lot of schools are suggesting to parents that their son or daughter might be better placed somewhere else to avoid a school exclusion.” So should schools have a responsibility to first check whether parents are capable of educating their children?
Mr Hinds then launched into a heartfelt homage to home educators, taking the opportunity to “pay tribute to the parents who give their time so selflessly to educate children at home, sometimes who have had a very bad time at school. They deserve our appreciation and support.”
After several more minutes of this, Mr Halfon made a polite intervention: “Just very gently, if you could be slightly more concise, because we’ve got so much more to get through.”
“I will try to - these are multi-layered issues - my apologies,” came the reply.
While Mr Hinds’ safe replies appeared to frustrate commentators, the committee was praised for playing its part.
