Written question asked by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative) on Tuesday, 14 June 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 June 2005. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 June 2005 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Bury Lawn School, Milton Keynes

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if she will commission an inquiry into the relations between parents and school administrators, Global Education Management Systems, at Bury Lawn School in Milton Keynes.

Answer: Bury Lawn school is an independent school. Like other independent schools, it is registered with the Department and is subject to regular inspection. All independent schools must reach and maintain satisfactory standards of education, health, safety and welfare which are set out in regulations, in order to achieve and maintain registration. These standards do not interfere with the freedom of independent schools to manage their own affairs, including the commercial relationship between the school and parents. In the case of Bury Lawn, the dispute is not related to our statutory minimum standards, so the Secretary of State has no power to intervene.

Secondary information