Clause23
Education and Inspections Bill
1:30 pm
Nadine Dorries (Mid Bedfordshire, Conservative)
Clause 23 contains powers to remove thefoundation altogether from a foundation school and/or to reduce thenumber of foundation governors, such that they would no longer be themajority. If a Secretary of State really wants independent schools andfor City livery companies, corporations and charities to sponsorfoundations, she cannot be given the power to override the foundationand the foundation governors if she wants to change the school. Shecannot have her cake and eat it. If she wants sponsors to come forwardwith finance and to become charitable trusts to take on schools, whydoes she need thatpower?
Why would theSecretary of State want to override the governors and change the statusof a school? What situation does she envisage that could bring aboutsuch a situation? Once they have been made independent and the governors arelooking after the school, is that not what we want them to do? Do notwe want them to be independent and self governing? Does the Secretaryof State really want the power to take that away? How would itencourage schools to take on the foundation status if she had thatoverridingpower?