Education Bill — Lords Amendment on Academies' Admissions Arrangements — 15 Jul 2002 at 21:45

The majority Aye voters passed a House of Lords amendment^[1] that would require academies to agree their admissions arrangements with other partners in the local area. This amendment relates to the Education Act 2002.

As David Miliband MP, in the debate on this amendment, explains^[2]:

• "Lords amendment No. 37 gives effect to our intention to require academies, formerly known as city academies, to take part in statutory admission forums and have regard to their advice—an obligation that we have included in their funding agreements. We have already put in place robust arrangements to ensure that academies will be inclusive schools, and that they will agree their admission arrangements in partnership with local education authorities and other admissions authorities."

The main aims of the Education Bill were to^[3]:

• Allow schools to exempt themselves from laws which prevented them from innovating. However, this is dependent on the Secretary of State's approval.
• Give good schools the option of qualifying for greater flexibility in the National Curriculum and teachers' pay.
• Allow schools to join together in a federation under a single governing body.
• Further regulate school admissions, exclusions and attendance policies.
• Give the Secretary of State further powers to intervene in failing schools.
• Introduce a new regulatory regime for independent schools.

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• [1] Baroness Ashton of Upholland, House of Lords, 3 July 2002
• [2] David Miliband MP, House of Commons, 15 July 2002
• [3] TeacherNet Summary, 17 September 2002

Debate in Parliament | Historical Hansard | Source |