Written question asked by Jackie Ballard (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 28 February 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 March 2001. It was answered by Baroness Morris of Yardley (Labour) on Monday, 12 March 2001 on behalf of the Department for Education and Employment.

Dept for Education and Employment

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will develop a statutory framework for school councils in both primary and secondary schools.

Answer: Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will develop a statutory framework for school councils in both primary and secondary schools. [152281] Ms Estelle Morris: The Citizenship programme of study, which will become statutory for secondary schools in September 2002, encourages active participation of young people in the democratic life of their school and the wider community. School councils and class councils provide excellent opportunities to fulfil this aim, although within the flexible Citizenship programme, it will be open to schools to decide whether to have a school council. To support the schools that decide to introduce a school or class council, the Department has funded School Councils UK to produce a primary schools toolkit, and develop resources for secondary schools to enable teachers and pupils to set up effective structures for pupil participation. The primary toolkit was made available to schools last September and the secondary resource will be made available to schools this summer.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 152281; 364 c433-4W
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Democracy Pupils Primary education Schools Secondary education School councils
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk