SCHOOLS Minister and South Dorset MP Jim Knight was put on the spot by parents.

He took time out from his Parliamentary duties to host an education-themed question-and-answer session at Conifers Primary School in Weymouth before touring a new learning centre in the town.

Questions ranged from school admissions to special needs provision and Mr Knight said he would be following up some of the issues in Westminster.

He was also quick to point out the facts around the new Equalities Act which some people expressed concern about.

Mr Knight stressed that the legislation did not impose a duty on schools to promote homosexuality, rather that it sought to end discrimination against people on the grounds of sexual orientation.

He pledged to release a statement to church and school leaders in Dorset explaining the details of the Act.

The minister later chatted to youngsters and described the new school as 'wonderful.' Mr Knight said: "It's easy for me to hear from the workforce, the unions, the people who organise the system in local authorities and those in my department but I don't often hear from the parents.

"To know what it feels like for them is very important for me and there were issues that were raised which I will go away and reflect on and see if we can change the regulations accordingly."

He added: "It's good to have dialogue. It's good to be able to hear what concerns people have and how they're interpreting what we're saying."

Later, Mr Knight visited the Compass centre in Lynch Lane which provides education for disaffected students on the brink of school exclusion.

Developed by the Chesil Education Partnership (CEP) and Dorset County Council, the centre aims to reintegrate students back into school or support them in post-16 employment or training.

CEP executive director Gary Fooks said although Compass has been operational for 12 months they wanted a minister to officially open the centre.

Mr Fooks said Compass was seen nationally as an 'exemplary model of re-engaging young people in education.' Permanent exclusions in the CEP area have dropped from 15 to 1 thanks to Compass.