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Further Education and Training Bill [HL]

This is intended to give the Minister an opportunity to clarify the Government’s intentions and explore the practical consequences of the clause. Clause 22 expands upon the power that the Secretary of State has already to make regulations about what qualifications the principal of a further education college must have or be working towards. It gives a further power to set a time limit on how long a principal can continue to hold his or her post while studying for the qualification and removes an exemption for principals who were appointed before 2002. Can the Minister explain why the clause has been found necessary? Have there been cases where a principal has drawn out the process of attaining a necessary qualification beyond what is reasonable? The White Paper suggested that newly appointed principals would be given three years to achieve the qualification. Is this still the case and will it apply to all principals? Forty-seven per cent of principals are 55 years old or over and it is unlikely that they are planning to change jobs before their retirement. Are the Government expecting those near retirement, who have taught successfully for many years, to work towards the qualification too? I look forward to the Minister’s answer and to being reassured that this clause will be applied sensibly.