Failing local authority schools will no longer be automatically forced to become academies under a bill being introduced to Parliament today.
The Department for Education has outlined measures that will be included in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Measures in the bill, which was announced in the King’s Speech in July, also include every teacher having the same “core pay and conditions offer”, with schools given “greater flexibility to recruit and retain the best teachers”.
Currently, academies have the freedom to deviate from national pay scales, although relatively few do so.
A Tes investigation earlier this year found that 12 trusts, out of 625 that responded, paid above national pay scales. A further 21 differed slightly from the national deal.
Today’s bill also includes the previously announced requirement for all teachers to hold or to work towards Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). They will also be required to complete a statutory induction period.
Councils will be able to take proposals for all types of schools, not just academies, and will also be given greater powers to ensure admissions decisions reflect local needs.
No forced academisation
The education secretary currently has a legal duty to make an academy order for all maintained schools judged to have serious weaknesses and those requiring special measures.
However, the new bill sets out that there will be no automatic forced academisation for “failing” local authority schools. The DfE said this would open up a “broader range of levers to quickly drive up standards”.
This follows the removal of the requirement for schools to convert if they receive two “requires improvement” grades, which was announced when headline Ofsted grades were scrapped earlier this year.
The DfE said at the time that Ofsted will continue to be legally required to identify schools that are “causing concern” - previously rated as “inadequate” - and notify the education secretary.
Outlining details for the new Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) teams in November, the DfE said a “small number of schools” would still require structural intervention. These decisions will be made by regional directors and could include moving into a strong trust.
‘Not in school’ register
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will also introduce registers to identify children who are not in school, as has been previously announced. These registers are intended to help councils identify where help is needed.
There will further be measures in the bill to make sure teachers and schools are involved in safeguarding decisions in their area. Parents will no longer have an automatic right to educate their children at home if their child is under a protection plan or subject to a protection investigation.
Local authorities will have the power to intervene and require school attendance if a home environment is assessed as unsuitable.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said that the bill will help to join up children’s social care, schools and local services.
“Alongside further measures to drive high and rising standards in our schools, this bill will deliver on this government’s Plan for Change, so that all children, whatever their circumstances, can achieve and thrive,” she added.
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