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Education and Inspections Bill

This has been a good debate, albeit a short one. It has illustrated the strong feelings on the subject on both sides of the House and perhaps, as various Members have said, that we need more time to debate the issues over the coming weeks and months. I hope that the Government will make more time for that. I do not have time to deal with all the points that were raised in the debate, but important things need amplification. Of course, the continuing and particular role played by special schools must be defended, but non-statemented special needs must be given closer consideration, as was pointed out. As the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Marsden) said, we need to look at the training and resources provided to our teachers to educate children who are especially vulnerable and have particular needs. Where schools are doing the right thing they need our support, whether they are mainstream or special schools. As my hon. Friend the Member for Upminster (Angela Watkinson) said, that means providing the services of speech and language specialists and educational psychologists. This has been a good debate. I am determined that the Opposition will continue to fight the battle on behalf of special needs children. We will continue to defend special schools. We will not relent in defending those vulnerable people. I hope other Members will join us. It being two hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion, Mr. Deputy Speaker put forthwith the Question already proposed from the Chair, pursuant to Order [23 May]. Question put and negatived. Mr. Deputy Speaker then proceeded to put forthwith the Questions necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded at that hour."‘(1) No special school shall be closed by a local education authority without the consent of the Secretary of State.""(2) The Secretary of State shall only consent to the closure of a special school if there are places at nearby special schools in sufficient number and sufficient quality to replace the school adequately.'. —[Mr. Hayes.]" Brought up, and read the First time. Question put, That the clause be read a Second time:—"‘(1) The governing body of a maintained school, Academy, city technology college or city college for the technology of the arts may comprise—""(2) Foundation schools shall not appoint a majority of governors who are foundation governors and in no case shall governors who are foundation governors outnumber elected parent governors.'. —[Sarah Teather.]" Brought up, and read the First time. Motion made, and Question put, That the clause be read a Second time:—"‘(1) Chapter 1 of Part 3 of SSFA 1998 (Schools admissions) is amended as follows.""(2) After section 89 insert the following section—""(1) Admissions administration will receive all applications for places made on behalf of pupils seeking admission to maintained schools, academies, city technology colleges and city colleges for the technology of the arts within its area.""(2) Admissions administration will determine the awarding of places at maintained schools within its area having regard to the arrangements which are to apply for that year, established by any admissions authority within that area, including special arrangements provided for in section 91.""(3) The admissions administration shall then make the list of places awarded available to maintained schools, academies, city technology colleges and city colleges for the technology of the arts within its local area and notify parents of the results of their application.""(4) The admissions administration shall always act such that the identity of the individual applicants cannot be determined by the schools for which they have applied or expressed a preference during the admissions process, until the list of places awarded is made available to schools and parents by the admissions administration.""(5) If a school believes that the admissions administration has failed to adhere to its admissions criteria, as set by the admissions authority, it may appeal to the admissions forum, which may review, and report on their findings.""(6) The person responsible for admissions administration within a local education authority must be employed or commissioned by the local education authority.""(7) In this Chapter ““admissions administration”” means the person responsible for the administration of arrangements for the admission of pupils to any school within a local education authority's area.””.'.—[Sarah Teather.]" Brought up, and read the First time.