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, clarifying rules around admission arrangements, and introducing direct payment pilot schemes for individuals with special educational needs.

Description

The amendments introduce several key changes:

Enforcement Powers

The bill grants Ofqual (the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) and the Welsh Ministers new powers to impose monetary penalties (up to 10% of a body's turnover) and recover costs on recognised educational bodies for non-compliance with conditions. These bodies can appeal the decision to the First-tier Tribunal.

Admission Arrangements

Amendments clarify the process for handling objections to school admission arrangements, extending the definition of who can object. Specific changes to processes around admission arrangements are made.

Governance of Educational Institutions

The bill significantly alters the governance of further education corporations and designated institutions in England and Wales, including modifications to the creation, modification, and dissolution processes. It also provides guidance on the makeup of governing bodies for these institutions.

Apprenticeship Training

The bill strengthens the Chief Executive of Skills Funding's duty to encourage employer participation in apprenticeship training.

Direct Payments

A new clause introduces pilot schemes for direct payments in England to individuals with special educational needs or undergoing learning difficulty assessments. These payments will help secure goods and services mentioned in their statements of special educational needs or assessment.

Miscellaneous Amendments

The bill also makes various other amendments to existing legislation, mainly to ensure consistency with the changes introduced above and to update definitions relating to Academies and alternative provision Academies.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify the financial impact on government spending. However, the introduction of direct payments for individuals with special educational needs could lead to increased expenditure, while the new enforcement powers could potentially generate revenue for Ofqual and the Welsh Ministers through penalties.

Groups Affected

• Recognised educational bodies in England and Wales: Face potential monetary penalties and cost recovery for non-compliance.
• Parents and individuals objecting to school admission arrangements: Changes to the process for handling objections.
• Further education corporations and designated institutions: Significant changes to governance structures and processes.
• Employers involved in apprenticeship training: Increased encouragement to participate.
• Individuals with special educational needs and those undergoing learning difficulty assessments in England: Potential access to direct payments for goods and services.
• Academies and alternative provision Academies: Various amendments affecting their status and operations.
• Local Authorities: Changes in their responsibilities.

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