Question follow-through · 42176

Schools: Debts

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the number of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in debt in (i) England and (ii) Essex.

answeredDepartment for Education

About this written question

A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.

Answering body
Department for Education
Tabled
27 Mar 2025
Target answer date
31 Mar 2025
Answer
4 Apr 2025 · 8 calendar days after tabling

Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.

More questions by this MP on Education and skills

Shared topic keywords suggest a connection; they do not establish a follow-up.

Recorded timeline

  1. 27 Mar 2025

    Question tabled

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the number of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in debt in (i) England and (ii) Essex.

  2. 31 Mar 2025

    Target answer date

    Date supplied by the official written-questions record.

  3. 4 Apr 2025

    Answer published

    The department trusts schools to manage their own budgets, and the vast majority are operating with a cumulative surplus, with only a small percentage having a deficit.The latest published figures for academies show that at a national level, 98% of academ...

Open official record

Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.

Later records

Possible follow-up questions

Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Teachers: Political Impartiality

1 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that teachers remain (a) politically impartial and (b) balanced, in line with Section 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996.

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Teachers: Political Impartiality

1 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with teachers on political impartiality in schools.

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Schools: Political Impartiality

1 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure teaching materials used in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools are (i) politically impartial and (ii) present a balanced view of (A) political and (B) historical events.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Schools: Political Impartiality

1 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department monitors political impartiality in schools.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Schools: Political Impartiality

1 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to promote transparency between teachers and parents on politically sensitive topics in schools.

Strong linkSame MP, department and exact heading

Schools: Debts

3 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the number of secondary schools in debt.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Secondary Education: Class Sizes

3 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of (a) the average class size in secondary schools and (b) the number of secondary school places available to young people in (i) England and (ii) Essex.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Class Sizes

3 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of growing class sizes on (a) the academic attainment of students and (b) the quality of lessons.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Schools: Standards

3 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the quality of (a) buildings and (b) facilities in state secondary schools in England.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Schools: Repairs and Maintenance

3 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available for secondary schools facing financial pressures that require (a) new facilities and (b) building repairs.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Education: Boys

3 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions her Department has had with secondary school teachers on the (a) attainment, (b) behaviour and (c) attendance of boys in schools in (i) England and (ii) Essex.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Education: Boys

3 Apr 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the education system for supporting the academic attainment of boys.