---

Education and Inspections Bill

I have two points to make on the amendments; one is in relation to that just raised by my noble friend Lord Dearing. I believe there is a need to ensure that academies are seen to be under the same measures and pressures as all other schools. I am not convinced, however, because of the way in which academies are set up, that going through the local authority would be the most appropriate way to introduce such pressure. An inspection of a particular kind might be a way of raising the issue in the Secretary of State’s judgment. Secondly, Amendment No. 185 would eliminate Clause 53(3)(c), which refers to, "““the standards attained by pupils at comparable schools””." What does that paragraph add to, "““the standards that the pupils might in all the circumstances reasonably be expected to attain””?" It seems to me that the one ought to be encompassed by the other in any case.