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Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

Oh, dear, it seems like three years ago. That is in legislation already, and it is very good practice. All the best schools consult their pupils and bring them along with the management team. I am most grateful to the Minister for telling us what will happen with academies. I understand her point that it is perhaps a little early to bring some of the academies into the process. She is quite right that they are often dealing with the most vulnerable children with the most difficult needs. As long as some kind of complaints process is in place at the moment, we would very much like to see the academies eventually brought into the main system when appropriate. On what happens when a pupil has left, the Minister gave an example which I admit had not occurred to me; that is, when it relates to the pupil’s exams and they have left the school. We look forward to the opportunity to scrutinise the regulations on that. I was grateful for the Minister’s confirmation that pupils would be involved if they made a complaint, that they would be given all the information that their parents would be given by the commissioner and that the commissioner would be able to provide an advocate where he felt it appropriate. It is important that the resources are available to provide that advocate, especially for children who find it difficult to make their views known. It is a service which does a lot of good. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 283B withdrawn. Amendments 284 to 286 not moved. Clause 199 agreed. Clause 200 : Power of Local Commissioner to investigate complaint Amendments 287 and 288 not moved.