The Education Bill

Members will recall that the Education Bill was introduced to Parliament in November 2001.  It has now completed most of its stages in both Houses, the most recent being Commons’ consideration of Lords’ amendments on 15 July.  Subject to completion of its remaining Parliamentary stages before Westminster rises for its summer recess, the Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent by the end of this month.

The Education Bill implements policy commitments and proposals made in the White Paper for England ‘Schools – Achieving Success’ and in ‘The Learning Country’, our  paving document for comprehensive education and lifelong learning in Wales to 2010.  As was made clear in ‘The Learning Country’, the majority of the Bill’s provisions are enabling in character with, subject to enactment, the Assembly having discretion as to the pace and extent of their implementation in Wales.

Since the Education Bill was introduced last autumn, the detail of the Bill has been scrutinised closely by both Houses of Parliament.  Taken overall, the content of the Bill has not changed substantively since its introduction, although there have been drafting changes to some individual clauses for legal or for clarification reasons, plus Government and Opposition changes proposed in the course of debates and amendments agreed to give those effect.  There has been nothing contentious with the provisions proposed for Wales and Parliament continues to understand and recognise the Assembly’s capacity to shape and implement its own policy.  We are therefore making steady progress towards enacting the legislation needed to continue realising our training and education agenda for Wales.  

‘The Learning Country’ set out our proposals for legislation.  In so far as they relate to this Education Bill, and subject to enactment of the current provisions, they will have reached the statute book in under a year.  In parallel, we are also moving ahead with our other distinctive policies for Wales which received such widespread welcome in ‘The Learning Country’.   Amongst many other things, the Bill will enable us to:

• complete the development of the national curriculum for Wales,  including introduction of a statutory foundation stage from age 3 - 7;
  
  
• establish an SEN Tribunal for Wales and enable us to better meet the needs of children with more complex special educational needs through regional provision;
  
  
• ensure better transition between primary and secondary schools to help lift standards for, and the results achieved by, 11 to 14 year olds; and,
  
  
• strengthen partnership arrangements between schools and LEAs to help raise educational standards in all our schools.

Following Royal Assent to the Bill, all Members will receive a copy of the Education Act 2002 and its accompanying Explanatory Notes.  I undertook to have a debate on the Learning Country in context of the new legislation once it had completed its Parliamentary procedures.  I have asked the Business Minister to schedule the debate for early autumn.