Clause 3 — Application for Academy order

Part of Bills Presented — Local Referendums Bill – in the House of Commons at 5:45 pm on 26 July 2010.

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Photo of Bill Esterson Bill Esterson Labour, Sefton Central 5:45, 26 July 2010

There are many professionals with good experience of how to consult effectively with children. Exactly the same point that Julian Sturdy has just raised-the point about why children should not be consulted-was raised with me when I was dealing with the establishment of academies in Medway a couple of years ago. However, it is a completely spurious point, as I think my hon. Friend would agree, because even much younger children have good insights. The question is how we go about consulting them, not whether we should consult them.