Clause 40
Education and Inspections Bill
8:00 pm
Christopher Chope (Christchurch, Conservative)
With this it will be convenient to discuss the following:
Amendment No. 213, in clause 40, page 29, line 5, after ‘interview', insert ‘or written test'.
Amendment No. 436, in clause 40, page 29, line 5, after ‘interview', insert
‘(whether face to face or by telephone)'.
Amendment No. 214, in clause 40, page 29, line 6, after ‘interview', insert ‘or written test'.
Amendment No. 48, in clause 40, page 29, line 8, at end insert—
‘(1A) If the maintained school is one which has been designated as a school having a religious character in accordance with section 69, subsection (1) does not apply in relation to any interview intended to assess religious commitment and religious practice.'.
Amendment No. 49, in clause 40, page 29, line 8, at end insert—
‘(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to any interview conducted to assess intended compliance with a home school contract.'.
Amendment No. 369, in clause 40, page 29, line 12, at end insert—
‘(2A) If the maintained school is of a religious character and preference is given to applicants for admission to that school on the basis of the religious practice of the pupil, then subsection (1) does not apply in relation to any interview intended to assess the suitability of the applicant for such a school.'.
Amendment No. 406, in clause 40, page 29, line 15, at end insert ‘interview,'.
Amendment No. 208, in clause 40, page 29, line 18, at end insert—
‘(3A) Subsection (1) does not apply to any interview conducted in connection with the admission of pupils to the school for secondary education suitable to the requirements of pupils who are over compulsory school age.'.
Amendment No. 205, in clause 40, page 29, line 20, at end add—
‘(5) This section does not apply to a foundation, voluntary-aided or voluntary-controlled school which has been designated by the Secretary of State under section 69 as a school having a religious character.'.
Amendment No. 215, in clause 40, page 29, line 20, at end add—
‘(2) In section 482 (academies) of EA 1996, in subsection (2)—
(a) omit “and” at the end of paragraph (a), and
(b) after paragraph (b) insert “and
(c) does not have admission arrangements which require or authorise any interview with an applicant for admission to the academy or his parents, where the interview is to be taken into account (to any extent) in determining whether the applicant is to be admitted to the academy”.'.
Clause stand part.
New clause 9—Freedom to interview—
‘A maintained school shall have complete freedom to interview candidates for admission at its absolute discretion, including in cases where the interview plays a part in deciding whether the candidate is to be admitted to the school.'.