LIB DEMS ACHIEVED CONCESSIONS ON ACADEMIES BILL
August 25, 2010 5:17 PM
Sarah Teather, junior minister of Education responded recently to a enquiry about how the Lib Dems had altered the academies bill says Ros Kayes.
We now have:
Ros Kayes, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman for South Dorset
1) a duty for applicant schools to consult with all appropriate people and groups,
2) parity with maintained schools on the duties in regard to SEN,
3) confirmation that the Human Rights and Freedom of Information Acts apply to academies,
4) confirmation that there will be a "needs" element in the funding as well as numbers,
5) confirmation that Academies will have to comply with the local Admissions Codes and the local exclusion and behaviour
partnerships.
6) parliamentary accountability in the form of an annual report. It will give a chance of checking up on the demographic groups
of children in academies, the number of those with SEN, the numbers entitled to free school meals, the number of
looked-after children and so on.
7) a duty on the SoS, in considering any application, to consider the impact of the new or converted school on other existing
schools in the area.
8) a commitment that the Government will work with Local Authorities and the LGA during the summer to define the role of LAs
in relation to planning for and supporting academies and schools generally.
Personally I (that's Ros speaking not Sarah !) would have preferred this bill not to be passed as I have indicated in my blog - however some of these measures represent some improvement to the original legislation.
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats