In autumn 2005 the Government published the Schools White Paper Higher Standards, Better Schools For All, a major step forward in the Government’s aim of ensuring that every child in every school in every community gets the education they need to enable them to fulfil their potential. Many of these changes do not require legislation; others are taken forward by the Education and Inspections Bill which was published on the 28 February 2006. The Bill also includes some provisions which were not included in the White Paper, for example those on inspectorate reform.
Some of the main provisions in the Bill are as follows:
Trust schools
The Bill will enable all schools to become Trust schools by forming links with external partners who will be able, should the school choose, to appoint the majority of the Governing Body. Trust schools will:
- own their own assets,
- employ their own staff,
- set their admission arrangements,
- and be able to apply for additional flexibilities.
There will be safeguards around the acquisition of Trusts.
Local authorities
Local authorities will take on a new strategic role including:
- duties to promote choice, diversity and high standards for every child
- a duty to respond to parental concerns about the quality of local schools
- acting as decision-maker on school organisation matters
- responsibility for making sure young people have a range of exciting things to do in their spare time.
Fair access
The Bill will tighten the admissions framework to ensure fair access for all:
- reaffirming the ban on new selection by ability
- a ban on interviewing
- strengthened status for the Code on School Admissions
- new powers for admissions forums
- an extended duty on local authorities to provide free transport for the most disadvantaged families.
The Bill will also:
- create a power for staff to discipline pupils
- extend the scope of parenting orders and contracts
- improve provision for excluded pupils
- put in place a new entitlement to specialised Diplomas for young people
- establish new nutritional standards for food and drink served in maintained schools
- merge several existing inspectorates into a single inspectorate to cover the full range of services for children and young people, as well as life-long learning.
