Local authorities: education
This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on local authorities involved in education. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs. For material on local authority involvement in other subjects, see the local government page.
Standard Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 26.07.2012 | School Funding, including the Pupil Premium |
| This note sets out the development of the school funding system for current expenditure (rather than capital expenditure, which is concerned with school buildings), including the ring-fenced Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and other grants given to schools, and details of the 2012-13 settlement including the pupil premium. | |
| 19.07.2012 | The green paper on special educational needs and disability |
| This Standard Note briefly outlines of the current special educational needs (SEN) system in England, highlights the main proposals in the Government's green paper on special educational needs and disability, and notes the Government's plans to implement the changes.. | |
| 02.07.2012 | Constituency work: school-related matters |
| The note provides brief background and key sources on a selection of issues that are typically raised with Members by constituents (including school organisation; school admissions; transport to school; school attendance and exclusion from school; and, special educational needs provision).The note gives a very brief overview of the structure of the state-maintained school system including an outline of the different categories of schools as often an answer to a school-related constituency question may depend upon the type of school in question. | |
| 10.06.2010 | School meals and nutritional standards: policy developments since May 2005 |
| 26.01.2010 | Variations in GCSE performance 2008/09 |
| A summary of data on how GCSE performance varied by pupil characteristics, school types and geography in 2008/09 |
Research Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 14.07.2010 | Academies Bill [HL] Bill 57 of 2010-11 |
| The Bill allows the governing body of each maintained school in England to apply to the Secretary of State to convert the school to an academy. The Secretary of State will also be empowered to convert schools that are 'eligible for intervention'. The Bill also makes provision for 'free schools' - new schools set up by parents, teachers, charities, universities, business or community or faith groups where there is parental demand. Free schools will have the same legal requirements as academies. During the Bill's passage through the House of Lords, a number of Government amendments were made, including those on special educational needs provision in academies, consultation during the conversion process and applying Freedom of Information legislation to academies. Many non-Government amendments were proposed, of which two were successful. One of these required the Secretary of State to publish an annual report on academies, which the Government welcomed; the other related to services for children with low incidence special educational needs, which the Government opposed. | |
| 15.02.2010 | Children, Schools and Families Bill: Committee Stage Report Bill No 8 of 2009-10 |
| This is an account of the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Children, Schools and Families Bill. The Bill contained a clause on the charitable status of academies, but the Government decided it could achieve its objectives by non-legislative means, and at the end of the Committee Stage the clause was removed. No other changes were made to the Bill in Committee. There were many amendments proposed by the opposition parties but none was successful. | |
| 16.12.2009 | Children, Schools and Families Bill. Bill 8 2009-10. |
| This Bill provides 'guarantees' for pupils and parents in the school system, underpinned by new Home School Agreements, and makes provision for parental satisfaction surveys. It also makes changes to the powers of governing bodies of maintained schools; extends the remit of School Improvement Partners; provides greater powers for local authorities and the Secretary of State in relation to failing schools; paves the way for the introduction of School Report Cards; and makes provision to introduce a licence to practise for teachers. The Bill also seeks to implement the recommendations of several major reports. These changes affect the school curriculum; provide a registration system for home educators; and provide an additional right of appeal for parents of children with special educational needs. The Bill would also make changes to the reporting of information relating to family proceedings. Other provisions relate to Local Safeguarding Children Boards, Youth Offending Teams, the charitable status of academies, and the fees system for the inspection of independent schools. | |
| 10.12.2007 | Education and Skills Bill, Bill 12 of 2007-08 |
| Education and Skills Bill. (Bill 12 of 2007/08). House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/87. | |
| 10.03.2006 | Education and Inspections Bill (Bill 134 of 2005-06) |
| The Education and Inspections Bill (Bill 134 of 2005-06). House of Commons Library Research Paper 06/15 |
Early Day Motions
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 15.06.2010 | F40 AND EDUCATION FUNDING |
| That this House commends the long-running campaign that the F40 group has fought for fairer funding on behalf of the lowest funded education authorities and supports the group's effort ... | |
| 07.04.2010 | CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES BILL |
| That this House is deeply disturbed by the actions of Her Majesty's Opposition in failing to support key elements of the Children, Schools and Families Bill which would have delivered ... | |
| 20.10.2009 | HOME EDUCATION (No. 2) |
| That this House notes with concern the lack of funds available to charitable and third-party organisations assisting in the education of home-schooled children; further notes the additional ... | |
| 05.03.2008 | LEARNING AND SKILLS COUNCIL AND CO-LOCATION OF SHREWSBURY SIXTH FORM COLLEGE AND SHREWSBURY COLLEGE OF ART AND TECHNOLOGY |
| That this House expresses its consternation at the conduct of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in relation to the co-location of Shrewsbury Sixth Form College and Shrewsbury College ... | |
| 27.02.2008 | COST OF THE CO-LOCATION OF SHREWSBURY SIXTH FORM COLLEGE AND SHREWSBURY COLLEGE OF ART AND TECHNOLOGY |
| That this House expresses its concern that £2,084,209 million has been spent so far on architects, traffic consultants, engineers and other specialists' fees for the co-location of ... |
