LibDem and Conservative Lords join forces to protect independent schools from creeping regulation

17 June 2008

LibDem and Conservative Lords join forces to protect independent schools from creeping regulation.

House of Lords education front benchers for the LibDems and Conservatives call for Part 4 of the Education and Skills Bill to be deleted. This would prevent Ofsted from any new role in independent school inspection and see approved special school status ("section347") retained.

Speaking in the House of Lords at the second reading of the Education and Skills Bill last week, Conservative education lead Baroness Morris of Bolton and LibDem education lead Baroness Walmsley said that they would call for Part 4 of the Bill to be deleted.

The call followed extensive lobbying by ISC and ISI.

Baroness Morris said: "This is a reform that the independent sector did not want, that Ofsted did not ask for and that will place the Secretary of State further away from what was and should continue to be a good working system."

Baroness Walmsley said: "There is no good reason for changing the registration and regulation arrangements for independent schools."

Speaking today, ISC Acting Chief Executive Matthew Burgess said:

"Part 4 causes us great concern.  Our independent schools are recognised by the OECD as the best schools in the world.  The Government wants our sector's 'educational DNA'.  Forcing unwanted and unwarranted changes on the sector, such as transferring oversight to Ofsted, is unjustified and unnecessary, and consultation has been sadly lacking."

Ends


Notes for editors

  • The Education and Skills Bill largely focuses on raising compulsory school leaving age to 18-years-old.
  • The House of Commons Bill Committee has already approved the bill, following extensive lobbying by ISC and ISI, and it is now set for committee stage in the House of Lords.
  • The Bill calls for registration and regulation of independent schools to be transferred to Ofsted from the Secretary of State.
  • It also calls for the abolition of section 347 approved status for special needs schools. Section 347 provides for schools to be approved for the provision of education for children with specified special educational needs.  

ISC
The Independent Schools Council (ISC) is a politically independent, not-for-profit umbrella body, representing around 1300 independent schools educating more than 500,000 children in the UK and Ireland.

ISC schools include the well-known boarding schools, though the majority of ISC schools are day schools with strong local reputations.

ISC schools cover the entire academic range and take pupils from a broad cross-section of backgrounds, with nearly a third of children receiving help with fees.

Overall, ISC exists to promote choice, diversity and excellence in education; the development of talent at all levels of ability; and the widening of opportunity for children from all backgrounds to achieve their potential.

 

Press enquiries: Alexandra Caish, Head of Press, ISC

Telephone: (office) 020 7766 7060 (mobile) 07825 806017
Email: alex.caish@isc.co.uk