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Overview

These Lords Amendments to the Education and Adoption Bill focus on improving accountability and intervention in underperforming schools in England, both maintained schools and academies. The amendments introduce stricter criteria for intervention, enhanced communication with parents, and clearer processes for dealing with "coasting" schools (those performing adequately but not reaching their potential).

Description

The amendments modify how the government intervenes in underperforming schools. Key changes include:

• Defining "coasting" schools: The amendments clarify the definition of "coasting" schools and grant the Secretary of State the power to define this term through regulations. This allows for greater flexibility in identifying schools that are not meeting their potential.
• Intervention in maintained schools: The amendments ensure that the Secretary of State must intervene in coasting maintained schools after notifying the governing body. They also allow for exceptions via regulations.
• Intervention in academies: New clauses are added to the Academies Act 2010 to enable the Secretary of State to terminate academy agreements for both failing and coasting academies. A termination warning notice must be given to the academy proprietor before termination, providing them an opportunity to improve. The amendments also detail procedures and consequences for terminating these agreements, covering both new and existing agreements.
• Communication with parents: A new clause mandates that proposed proprietors of academies formed from concerning maintained schools must communicate their improvement plans to the parents of registered pupils before conversion.

Government Spending

The amendments don't directly specify government spending figures. However, the potential impact on government spending could involve increased costs related to intervention in underperforming schools, including potential costs of terminating academy agreements and supporting school improvement initiatives. Conversely, potential savings could be realized through improved school performance in the long term.

Groups Affected

• Underperforming schools (maintained and academies): These schools face increased scrutiny and potential intervention from the Secretary of State. This could lead to changes in leadership, teaching staff, or school governance.
• Parents of pupils in underperforming schools: Parents will receive more information about plans to improve schools that are causing concern, particularly in the case of academy conversions from maintained schools.
• School governing bodies: Governing bodies will have a more defined role in the process of intervention in maintained schools, including receiving notification of coasting status.
• Academy proprietors: Proprietors of academies face increased accountability and the possibility of their agreements being terminated if the academy is failing or coasting, providing a stronger incentive for improved performance.
• The Secretary of State for Education: The Secretary of State gains more powers and responsibilities related to school intervention and the definition of 'coasting'.