Responding to the decision to scrap the Schools Bill, Julie
McCulloch, Director of Policy at the Association of School and
College Leaders, said: “It is the correct decision to withdraw
the Schools Bill. It was poorly written and problematic,
particularly the clumsy attempt to give the Secretary of State
unprecedented powers over individual schools.
“We would also question whether focussing on large structural
change is the right priority for the government at the moment,
given the hugely worrying and growing shortage of teachers, and
the rising costs schools and colleges are having to grapple with.
However, if the intention to move towards a fully trust-led
system remains, it will be necessary to simplify and streamline
the way in which multi-academy trusts are regulated, and the
government will now have to find other ways to take this work
forward.
“There were some much-needed proposals in other areas in the
Schools Bill, including plans for a register of children not in
school, and greater powers for Ofsted to investigate unregistered
schools. These policies are long overdue and should still be a
priority.
“There are also many proposals in the Schools White Paper which
were not included in the Bill but which appear to be in limbo
because of the multiple ministerial changes since it was
published. This includes proposals around a longer school week
and the ‘parent pledge’. It is not helpful that schools do not
know whether or not these are being progressed.”
