Government resists moves to make schools accountable for wellbeing of children

Local government leaders are angry that the government is
resisting new moves to make schools more accountable for the
wellbeing of children, particularly those in care,
writes Craig Kenny.

One amendment to the Education Bill in the House of Lords
proposes a duty on schools inspectors to examine how well schools
are working with children’s services authorities to improve
wellbeing.

Another amendment proposes that schools watchdog Ofsted checks a
school’s progress in improving the educational attainment of
looked-after children.

Similar moves to amend the Children’s Bill, backed by the
Local Government Association, the police, children’s
charities and school governors, were blocked last year following
opposition from schools and teaching unions.

Councillor Alison King, chair of the LGA’s children and
young people board, said schools should be made to co-operate with
other agencies.

“There is a dislocation between schools, which are
becoming more autonomous, and local authorities, which will be
judged on their ability to provide for children’s
wellbeing,” she said.

“In the Education Bill, we are talking about schools
budgets being totally ring-fenced – that distances them
further from the local authority.

‘We are going to be judged on something about which we
have precious little control. We believe this is a huge and glaring
omission in the legislation.’

But education minister Lord Filkin told the House of Lords that
the amendment “represents a substantial loss of focus away
from the school and the work it does for its own pupils”.

The crossbench peer, Earl of Listowel, said his amendments on
looked-after children would provide a “real motor” to
ensure that inspectors check on their progress in school.

But Lord Filkin could see no point in singling out one group of
disadvantaged children. ‘We would be in danger of having a
list of particular groups that the inspector had to think about and
assess…That would fetter the inspector’s
discretion.’

It is understood that the government plans to spell out the need
for schools to co-operate with partner agencies in guidance to the
bill.

 

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