Overview

This bill amends the Education Bill, making changes to various aspects of education in England and Wales. Key changes include granting new enforcement powers to Ofqual and the Welsh Ministers, altering regulations concerning admission arrangements, and introducing provisions for direct payments to support individuals with special educational needs.

Description

The bill introduces several key amendments:

• Interim Prohibition Orders: Allows the Secretary of State to issue temporary bans on individuals involved in education pending a final decision, if deemed necessary in the public interest. These orders are subject to regular review.
• Allegations of Offences: Modifies reporting procedures for allegations of offences, clarifying the courts involved and including the victim in the process.
• Ofqual Enforcement Powers: Grants Ofqual (the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) increased powers to impose monetary penalties (up to 10% of a body's turnover) and recover costs from recognized bodies that fail to comply with conditions of recognition. These decisions are subject to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.
• Welsh Ministers' Enforcement Powers: Mirrors the Ofqual powers, granting similar enforcement abilities to the Welsh Ministers concerning qualifications and accreditation in Wales.
• Admission Arrangements: Simplifies and clarifies the process for handling objections to school admission arrangements.
• Governance of Schools and Colleges: Makes amendments to the governing bodies of various educational institutions, including changes to their composition and procedures for dissolution.
• Apprenticeship Training: Strengthens the duty of the Chief Executive of Skills Funding to secure employer participation in apprenticeship training.
• Direct Payments: Enables local authorities in England to make direct payments to individuals with special educational needs or undergoing learning difficulty assessments, to help secure necessary goods and services. This is limited to pilot schemes.
• Amendments to Existing Acts: The bill makes numerous amendments to existing legislation relating to education, including the Education Act 1996, the Education Act 2002, the Education and Inspections Act 2006, and others, to align them with the changes introduced by the bill.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify the financial implications. However, the introduction of new enforcement powers and direct payment schemes could potentially lead to both increased administrative costs and expenditure on supporting individuals with special educational needs. Precise figures are not provided in the amendment text.

Groups Affected

• Individuals in Education: Potential impact through interim prohibition orders, changes to reporting procedures for allegations of offences, and direct payment schemes for those with special educational needs.
• Educational Institutions: Affected by changes to governance structures, admission arrangements, and the increased enforcement powers of Ofqual and Welsh Ministers. This may include financial implications related to penalties and costs recovery.
• Ofqual and Welsh Ministers: Gain increased enforcement and regulatory powers.
• Local Authorities: Changes relating to admission arrangements, direct payments, and support for individuals with special educational needs.
• Employers: Increased responsibilities concerning apprenticeship training.
• Students and Staff of Educational Institutions: Affected by changes to governance and procedures.

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