Shadow boxing
Share
Shadow boxing
https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/shadow-boxing
But let’s look at the facts. If the legislation that is expected later this year or early next is merely tidying up the 1980 Education Act and clarifying powers, why the kerfuffle? The nuclear powers ministers currently possess under the 1980 Act to tackle authorities not fulfilling their duties have never been used. The reality is that these days no headteacher or education director ever survives a poor inspection report.
The improvement agenda, backed by toughened quality assurance systems, has seen to that. With more time, local quality checks will improve further.
This week, we prove our point that this piece of legislation is as wasteful of parliamentary time as many of Michael Forsyth’s Bills in the late 1980s which eventually bit the dust amid outright opposition. Ministers dispatched HMI to sort out East Dunbartonshire early in the new local authority inspection regime. Two years on, inspectors give the authority a glowing commendation for turning things around quickly. The system works.
Ministers also dispatched inspectors to Scottish Borders more rapidly than anticipated and a similar change of personnel and policy has followed. This week, we report Clackmannanshire is acting on standards in its three secondaries ahead of its inspection. So what more powers do they want? The great danger is to lose the credibility and respect HMI possesses with the profession.
Ultimately, Mr McConnell wants to diminish some local authorities’ control of education. That was something Mr Forsyth unsuccessfully pressed for.
You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get: