The Government has introduced a new Education Bill, which contains the proposals made in the November 2010 White Paper, The Importance of Teaching. The headline changes relate to behaviour and academies, but if passed by Parliament, the Bill will bring significant change in other elements of education too. The 122 page Bill is summarised below.

On Behaviour:

• There will be new measures to increase teachers' authority to discipline pupils and ensure good behaviour. Teachers in schools and FE institutions will be given the power to search pupils for an item that has been, or is likely to be, used to commit an offence or cause injury to the pupil or another, or damage property, and to search for items banned under the school rules. They will also be able to issue same-day detentions, and be entitled to pre-charge anonymity when faced with an allegation by a pupil of a criminal offence.
• The process for reviews of permanent exclusions is also to be reformed. The Bill also repeals the duty on all schools to enter into a behaviour and attendance partnership with other schools in their area.

On Academies and PRUs:

• The Academies programme will be extended, with Academies for 16-19 year olds and alternative provision Academies. Academies will no longer be required to have a specialism.
• The Secretary of State will be given new powers to make land available for free schools.
• Any new schools set up by local authorities must be Academies (including free schools).
• Pupil referral units will change name to 'short stay schools'.

On accountability/regulation/training:

• There will be more focused Ofsted inspections and wider powers to intervene in 'under-performing' schools.
• The GTCE and TDA will be abolished, with their functions brought under the direct control of the Secretary of State for Education.
• The School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) will be abolished entirely.
• Local authorities will no longer have to appoint a school improvement partner in each maintained school.
• The schools adjudicator will no longer be able to modify a school's admissions arrangements in response to a complaint or referral.
• The Secretary of State will be able to direct a local authority to issue a warning notice to a school on grounds of performance or safety concerns, and his powers to close schools beyond those regarded by Ofsted to be in special measures will be extended.

On the curriculum/examinations:

• Ofqual will be required to ensure that the standards of English qualifications are comparable with qualifications awarded outside the UK.
• The QCDA will be abolished, with functions brought under the direct control of the Secretary of State for Education.
• Local authorities, schools and governing bodies will no longer have to provide access to diploma entitlement for 16-18 year olds and pupils in the fourth key stage.
• The raising of the participation age to 17 in 2013 and 19 by 2015 will be retained, but related enforcement measures will be removed.

FE/HE specific:

• Colleges will be given increased freedoms, and there will be changes to skills entitlements as set out in 'Skills for Sustainable Growth' and 'Further Education-New Horizon' by DBIS in November 2010.
• In accordance with the Browne Review recommendations, a real rate of interest will be charge on HE student loans, and fees for part-time undergraduate courses will be capped.
• The Young People's Learning Agency for England (YPLA) will be abolished, with relevant functions transferred to the Secretary of State.

 

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