Education Bill (second reading) — 8 Feb 2011 at 21:50

Second reading of the Education Bill

The majority of MPs voted to give the Education Bill^[1] its second reading, in other words to allow it to continue its path to becoming law.

The Bill:

• Allows the establishment of "free schools" outside the normal local council procedures and amends the Academies Act 2010 to make provision for 16 to 19 academies and alternative provision academies
• Abolishes the General Teaching Council, Training and Development Agency for Schools, School Support Staff Negotiating Body, Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency and Young People’s Learning Agency for England
• Increases interest rate for student loans to market rate^[2]
• Allows teachers to search pupils
• Repeals diploma entitlement for 16 to 18 year olds

A new version of the Bill was published on the 6th of April 2011 following consideration by committee. The key points listed above were unaffected.

• [1] Text of Education Bill as of 27th January 2011
• [2] Section 70 of the Education Bill This states interest rates on student loans must be "no higher than those prevailing on the market, where the other terms on which such loans are provided are more favourable to borrowers than those prevailing on the market”.

Debate in Parliament | Source |