What didn’t happen with the CSF Bill!

The CSF Bill – What elements became law as part of the CSF Act 2010

The CSF Bill was introduced in November 2009 with and promised wide ranging changes to how we educate children and students in the UK.

Part 1 related to education and Part 2 to Family Proceedings. This article deals with Part 1 only.

The key areas for reform were to

a)     Create certain guarantees for pupils and parents setting out what they are entitled to from the school system.

b)     A reform of the curriculum (including broad reform at Primary and new PHSE curriculum).

c)     Introduced a ‘license to practise’  for teachers to raise professional standards and ensure continuous CPD was enshrined in law.

The Wash Up

As an election neared, the Bill entered ‘the wash up’ phase where clauses were negotiated between the three main parties rather than go through the natural process of amendment through the House of Lords. This meant that Ed Ball, Michael Gove and David Laws (Liberal Shadow Education Secretary) negotiated what should go and stay so the Bill could become law before the end of parliament (12^th April 2010).

Sections of the Bill that DID become law

Clause 7 – Clear and explicit focus (OfSted will mention it in their report) on Special Educational Needs in Inspections

What this will mean for schools?

A further change to the OfSted Framework for Inspection is due by law.

Clause 8 – The right of parents to appeal against a Special Needs Statement after a review and have that statement changed if needs be.

What this will mean for schools?

Where there has been no change in a Statement review schools/Local Authorities are liable to challenge an appeal and keep parents informed about this appeals process.

Clause 9 – An amendment of the provision of education in short stay schools (PRUs) to ensure that students are given a FULL TIME education wherever possible unless the Local Authority see this as not in the child’s best interests.

What this will mean for schools/PRUS?

Schools and PRUs will need to provide full time education for all students on roll unless otherwise specified by the Local Authority.

Clause 15 – Provision of community facilities are further enshrined in law and a responsibility for governers.

What this will mean for schools?

School governing bodies will need to consider at least once a year whether (and how) they should provide community facilities. This must be minuted.

Clause 16 – Ability of governing body to form a company.

What this will mean for schools?

This will allow all schools the ability to form a company and therefore an Academy through their governing body. They do not have to refer to the Local Authority. Schools can spend what they need to, to get there and can employ anyone they need to, to achieve this aim.

Clause 17/18 – Federated Academies and power to propose new schools

What this will mean for schools?

This section of the Law allows schools to federate through their governing bodies and allows governors to work across schools. This section will removes the restriction on governors to make proposals for a new school.

Clause 28 /29/30 – Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards

LSCBs to be inspected by OfSted but given further rights to collect information and testimony from a wide range of sources.

What this will mean for schools?

Schools will be expected to comply with their LSCB and will be compelled by law to give evidence/testimony. They will also be able to read their LSCB’s inspections report.

Sections of the Bill that are no longer law

Clauses 1-6 – Pupil/Parent Guarantees, Home/School Agreements and Parent Satisfaction Surveys

These clauses would have make the above agreements and surveys statutory and binding. There is a bit more freedom for schools now on how they deal with/manage parents and pupils.

Clauses 10-14 Revised Primary Curriculum, PSHE in maintained schools, Sex and Relationships education

These clauses would have revised the primary curriculum and made PSHE and Sex and Relationships education compulsory in Primaries and Secondaries. This is no longer the case.

Clauses 19-22 SIPs, providing information to Central Government and the ability of a Local Authority or Secretary of State to intervene in the running of a school.

These clauses would have increased the powers of SIPs, Local Authorities and Central Government to intervene in the running of a school and require lots of information from that school.

Clauses 23/24/25 – License to Teach

These clauses would have required teachers to have a ‘license to practise’ and for this to be logged by each school.

Conclusion

During an election period this is a considerable victory for the Conservative party who have managed to stave off changes to the curriculum and sex education. There is also a weakening of central and local government in the management of schools which follows their polices.

There will be a new Education Bill proposed in the new parliament (after the election). If will remain to be seen whether this is a completely new Bill or the clauses from this one that didn’t get through!

Filed under: Blog entries by ben