Member

On the other point raised by the noble Lord, Lord Lucas, it would obviously have helped to answer some of these questions if there was a mandated national data collection. I doubt, not only having taught in schools for 11 years but having previously been an Education Minister, whether schools would welcome the idea of an additional burden—and it would be a burden—of expecting a national data collection. As with all these things, we need to bear in mind the need and the wish for greater analysis and evidence alongside the requirements that we place on schools. I do not think the case is made for a national data collection in this particular circumstance.