Clause 18 - Governing bodies
Education Bill
8:00 pm
Mr Ivan Lewis (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Education and Skills; Bury South, Labour)
It is important to start consideration of this part of the Bill by briefly explaining the objectives of the changes that are proposed. First, we intend that the reforms of school governance should provide scope for schools to tailor governance arrangements to reflect their particular and unique circumstances, to ensure that there are adequate safeguards for representation and accountability and also to free governors from activities that are incidental to their primary strategic role. We want a governance framework that facilitates innovation. It is worth making the point that there has been a significant consultation exercise on the proposals, and it is therefore important that that coherent exercise hangs together and that we do not try to unpick it piece by piece. The proposals are in the public domain and were framed largely by the Way Forward Group, whose members include significant national bodies with an interest in governance.
There was a significant response to the consultation and a generally high level of support. I reiterate to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West a clear commitment to consult widely on the draft regulations and guidance, and to take account of the views and concerns that are expressed in that consultation exercise.
I hope that the hon. Gentleman accepts that that addresses some of his concerns. We intend to explain the proposed regulations on the constitution of governing bodies and other governance regulations in more detail in a policy statement before the Bill goes to the other place.