The Education and Adoption Bill
The legislation behind the concept of 'coasting' schools is making rapid progress through Parliament.
The Education and Adoption Bill (the Bill) was first presented to Parliament on 3 June 2015 and the Committee stage in the House of Commons was concluded on 14 July.
In this article we highlight some of the details behind recent media headlines and consider the practical implications for schools.
Secretary of State Intervention in a Maintained School
The Bill provides for intervention in a maintained school if the governing body of the school have been informed by the Secretary of State that she considers the school to be 'coasting'; and subsequently, the governing body have not been told that the Secretary of State no longer considers the school to be 'coasting'.
What is the definition of a coasting school?
The Bill refers at clause 1(2) to the Secretary of State having the power through regulations to define what 'coasting' means. On 13 July 2015 the illustrative regulations, The Coasting Schools (England) Regulations 2016, were published.
The illustrative regulations will accompany the Bill through the next stages through Parliament and expressly apply only to maintained schools.
Regulation 3 provides that a primary school will be a coasting school if it meets the coasting criteria for three successive years. The coasting criteria for 2014 and 2015 are based on the same school performance measures (ie. attainment and progress) used to set standards in order to hold schools to account (also referred to as 'floor standards' for primary and secondary schools). The coasting criteria for 2016 and successive years are based on a standard based on a new key stage 2 accountability system planned to be introduced in 2016.
Regulation 4 provides that a secondary school will be a coasting school if it meets the coasting criteria for three successive years. The coasting criteria for 2014 and 2015 are likewise based on the same school performance measures used to set the 'floor standards' for secondary schools. The secondary coasting standard for 2016 and successive years will be based on a level above the floor standard of -0.5 for the Progress 8 measure, planned to be introduced for all schools in 2016.
Find out more about the coasting schools definition.
A declining role for the local authority and the governing body?
The Bill would also enable the Secretary of State, in addition to the local authority, to give a warning notice to a maintained school about performance standards, a breakdown in governance, or safety (clause 2). The Secretary of State's warning notice supersedes any notice given by the local authority.
Governing bodies would no longer have the right to make representations to the Chief Inspector about a warning notice. Similarly, clause 3 removes the right for governing bodies to make representations to the local authority about a warning notice about teachers' pay and conditions under section 60A of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.
Where now a local authority appoints interim executive members of a governing body, the Bill would enable the Secretary of State to direct a local authority about who to appoint as interim executive members, how many to appoint, their terms and conditions, and termination of appointment (clause 5).
The Role of the Regional Schools Commissioners
In the DfE's press release 'Hundreds of coasting schools to be transformed', is the explanation that the eight regional schools commissioners, supported by elected head teacher boards from the local community, will assess whether the identified coasting schools have a credible plan to improve and ensure all children make the required progress. Those that can improve will be supported and those that cannot will be converted to academies under the leadership of an academy sponsor.
Academy Conversions
Significantly the Bill would amend the Academies Act 2010 to require the Secretary of State to make an academy order if a maintained school was eligible for intervention (see sections 61 and 62 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 - schools requiring significant improvement or schools requiring special measures).
The requirement to consult before conversion would be limited by the Bill, so that:
- the governing body would not be required to consult if an academy order has been made in respect of a school that is eligible for intervention (clause 8(2)).
- where a foundation or voluntary school with a foundation is eligible for intervention, the Secretary of State must consult about the identity of the sponsor with the trustees of the school, any person(s) who appoint(s) foundation governors and where relevant, the appropriate religious body. There is no requirement for the sponsor to conduct a consultation (clause 9(2)).
- for a school that is not eligible for intervention, the school's governing body must consult such persons as they think appropriate about whether the conversion should take place (clause 8(1)).
Where an academy order is granted in respect of a school eligible for intervention, the governing body of the school and the local authority must take all reasonable steps to facilitate the conversion (clause 10). The Secretary of State may also give directions to the governing body or local authority to facilitate the conversion.
Comment
Interestingly, the Bill envisages a mixed menu of options for building capacity to drive school improvement.
Clause 4 refers to a maintained school that is eligible for intervention entering into arrangements:
- with a specified person (who may be the governing body of another school)
- for collaboration between schools
- for collaboration with other maintained schools and further education bodies, or
- taking specified steps for the purpose of creating or joining a federation
The Bill makes no provision for tackling coasting academies which fall under the ambit of the regional schools commissioners. These academies are likely to be supported by stronger academies or as part of a MAT, or may be given new sponsors.