Ofsted head looks to allay school fears

Ofsted’s chief inspector of schools has dismissed fears that plans
to give primary schools more independence could undermine the
government’s aim for integrated services supporting all
children.

Speaking exclusively to Community Care, David Bell said people
should not exaggerate concerns about giving schools the right to
gain foundation status, under which school governors set admissions
arrangements.

The Education Bill would give primary schools the same rights as
secondary schools to apply for foundation status, leading
children’s services professionals to worry that schools could deny
access to disadvantaged children.

But Bell said that the admissions procedures operating in most
foundation schools were the same as other schools and took account
of factors such as how near children lived to the school.

“I would be concerned about this becoming some sort of argument
against proper school-based autonomy and decision making,” he said.