Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 18 February 2011.

Responding to a letter from the National Secular Society to the Secretary of State, shared with the media, about the protection of non-religious staff in faith schools, a Department for Education spokeswoman said:

We are disappointed with the misleading claims from the National Secular Society (NSS). The clause highlighted by the NSS is in fact there to ensure that the statutory rights of staff are protected when a school converts to Academy status.

The Education Bill does not reduce protections for teachers within faith schools that convert into Academies and we are confident that the Bill does not breach any domestic or European law.

Additional background:

A combination of provisions within the Bill, the Academies Act Commencement Order, Funding Agreements and the Equalities legislation provide protection for teachers when schools convert to academy status.

If, as can only happen with the agreement of the Secretary of State, an academy later changes from a model similar to voluntary-controlled to voluntary-aided teachers will be protected through a transitional provision. There have been six such conversions in the since 2007.

We consider that three main points are raised and our responses to these are as follows:

Where a voluntary controlled or foundation school with religious character converts to Academy status, clause 58 of the Education Bill continues the protection of non-reserved teachers that existed before the conversion. The protection is afforded to such schools in the meantime by way of transitional provisions in the Academies Act 2010 (Commencement and Transitional Provisions) Order 2010. Therefore it is not right to say that teachers in such schools are not currently protected if their schools convert to Academy status. The position of future staff is also protected in the funding agreement.

After conversion, it is possible for such an Academy to change its governance arrangements so that they reflect the maintained school voluntary aided model, in the same way that it is possible for a voluntary controlled or foundation school in the maintained sector to become a voluntary aided school. In practice this is rare – there have been 75 incidences of conversion from VC to VA model over the last 10 years.

Just as that process requires consultation in the maintained sector, we would expect any Academy wishing to make such a change to set out their business case fully and ensure a wide and thorough consultation was carried out. The Secretary of State would only approve an amendment to the Funding Agreement or the Memorandum and Articles if he was satisfied that sufficient consultation had taken place in the case of such a change and that the responses to the consultation showed that such a change was supported. If the Secretary of State agreed to change the governance arrangements of an Academy a deed of variation would be needed to make these amendments.

The Bill enables the Secretary of State to make an Order to disapply new section 124AA of the 1998 Act in the case of such a change, which would mean that section 124A of the 1998 Act would apply so that the school could lawfully discriminate in respect of up to 100% of its teachers on religious grounds. However, any Order made would include transitional provisions to continue the protection of existing non-reserved teachers. In the case of any change of category from voluntary controlled to voluntary aided in the maintained sector, it is secondary legislation that provides for the protection of non-reserved teachers, not primary legislation (The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations) Regulations 2007, paragraph 55 of Schedule 3). Therefore, we do not see any need to put this on the face of primary legislation.

The protections afforded to staff at community and secular voluntary and foundation maintained schools against discrimination on grounds of religious opinions etc. in current legislation are not applied to independent schools. Academies have existed since 2000 and we are not aware that this issue has been a problem in practice in this time. We are content to rely on the general Equality legislation in respect of such teachers.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 16 February 2011.

The Department for Education has confirmed today that Capita Business Services Ltd has been selected as the preferred supplier to administer the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) from October 2011.

The TPS is the second largest pension scheme in the country with 1.6 million members and has been administered by Capita since 1996. The new contract, worth £80 million, is for a period of seven years, with an option to extend by up to three further years.

The contract was awarded after a fair and open competition, using the competitive dialogue procurement route, with other strong contenders involved throughout.

Companies interested in administering the scheme had to demonstrate their ability to deliver a high quality, flexible, innovative and value for money administration service. The service requirement also supports the Coalition Government’s commitment to encourage saving for retirement and the implementation of changes to the TPS that might result from recommendations by Lord Hutton’s Independent Public Sector Pension Commission.

Capita has offered a solution which will see the effective delivery of the services, with continuous improvement and innovation throughout the life of the contract to reflect the challenges associated with the pension environment. The Department will work with Capita to build on their achievements to date in delivering the requirements of this new contract.

Further information

1. The first administration outsourcing contract for seven years was awarded to Capita 1996 following a competitive procurement. In 2003 Capita Hartshead were re-appointed following another procurement competition. This contract was for seven years, with the option to extend by up to three year. In 2008, following the undertaking of an options exercise, the Department extended the contract by one year, to 30 September 2011.
2. The Department placed a notice in the European Journal on 18 September 2009 inviting expressions of interest in the contract to administer the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
3. The appointment of Capita has been approved by a Project Board and the Department for Education’s Permanent Secretary, with Ministers being informed.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 15 February 2011.

Responding the Royal Society’s report on science and maths education, Schools Minister Nick Gibb said:

“We echo the concerns of the Royal Society about the need to improve the teaching and take-up of science and mathematics in our schools. As other countries make vast improvements in science and maths education, the UK continues to fall down international league tables and we now languish at 27th in the world for maths, and 16th for science – falling 19 and 14 places respectively in under 10 years.

The Schools White Paper reflects the importance this Government attaches to these subjects by exploring ways in which to attract the best graduates in science and maths into the teaching profession as well as improving continued professional development for teachers of all subjects.

We are also seeking the advice of universities and learned societies about how the Government can strengthen science and maths in the National Curriculum and restore rigour in GCSE and A Level exams. The English Baccalaureate includes mathematics and science which will drive up participation rates and attainment in these subjects pre and post-16. We are already committed to looking at new ways to encourage the take up of science qualifications, in particular physics, at all levels.”

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 11 February 2011.

The government has today published the findings from the review of the Vetting and Barring Scheme.

Children’s Minister Tim Loughton said:

“Protecting children and keeping them safe remains our top priority, but it’s also important that well-meaning adults are not put off working or volunteering with children.

The new system will be less bureaucratic and less intimidating. It will empower organisations to ask the right questions and make all the appropriate pre-employment checks, and encourage everyone to be vigilant.

This is a commonsense and proportionate approach which will ensure that children are properly protected without driving a wedge between them and adults.”

The Vetting and Barring Scheme remodelling review: report and recommendations is available from the Home Office.

A parallel Review of the criminal records regime led by Mrs Sunita Mason, the Government’s independent adviser on criminality information management, has also completed its first phase and the findings of that review are available online.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 11 February 2011.

Michael Gove presents award for Winkler’s tireless campaigning to support the earlier identification of children with SEN or disabilities.

Welcoming the award, Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education said:

I congratulate Henry Winkler on this much deserved award. As an accomplished actor, author and director he has not only shown people what it’s like to live with a disability, but more importantly he has inspired young people with disabilities to make their dreams a reality.

Whilst many will remember Henry as ‘The Fonz’, in recent years he has devoted himself to improving opportunities for children and adults who have learning difficulties. He has been awarded the OBE for his tireless campaigning to support the earlier identification and better understanding of children who have a special educational need or disability (SEND). I give Henry my wholehearted thanks for the time he has spent in this country visiting schools, inspiring children and raising their aspirations.

The Government is looking at a radical shake-up of the SEND system to give children with SEND and their parents a much bigger say in the type of support they need, and to make sure they achieve their full potential. It’s thanks to people like Henry that we can give children, parents and professionals a much greater understanding of how the system can work for them.

Further information

Henry Winkler was nominated for an honour by the editor of First News Nicky Cox MBE, the Dyslexia Trust and the Teaching Awards. The Department supported the nomination.

Henry was diagnosed with severe dyslexia in his thirties. He has co-authored 17 books based on a child with dyslexia, Hank Zipzer.

Last year he fronted the First News ‘My Way’ campaign to improve perceptions of children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities and raise their aspirations, and he worked with the Dyslexia Trust. This year, the National Teaching Awards presented a new SEN award with prize money donated by Henry.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 11 February 2011.

The government has today responded to the judgment following judicial reviews from 6 local authorities on the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

A Department for Education spokesperson said:

“We are delighted that the judge did not call into question the decision to end the wasteful and bureaucratic Building Schools for the Future programme. On the substantive points he concluded that it was a rational decision and that the authorities involved had no expectation of being allowed to proceed with their projects.”

Further information

Mr Justice Holman today found that the Secretary of State’s decision to end the BSF programme was rational and the claimants had no legitimate expectation of receiving funding.

The judge set out that the Secretary of State’s decision ‘is not open to legal challenge on the ground of irrationality, however that argument is developed or put’. He also said that further examination of the rationality of the decision would ‘be a grave and exorbitant usurpation… of the minister’s political role.’

Mr Justice Holman also concluded that ‘there was no promise or expectation’ that any of the claimants’ projects would definitely proceed.
The Secretary of State will now look again at his decision with regard to these authorities with an open mind, taking representations from them. The judge set out, however, that ‘the final decision on any project still rests with him and… no one should gain false hope from this decision’.

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 8 February 2011.

Baroness Morgan of Huyton was today named the new chairman of Ofsted.

Education Secretary Michael Gove, who made the appointment, said Baroness Morgan would play a key role in ensuring Ofsted met Government priorities of focusing on pupil attainment, teaching and learning, leadership, and behaviour and safety.

Michael Gove said:

I am delighted to appoint Baroness Morgan to this high-profile and vital post.

Sally is a hugely talented individual whose passion is improving education. She will ensure Ofsted focuses on improving our schools so we can match the world’s best, and will help us make opportunity more equal for the poorest.

Baroness Morgan said:

I am delighted to be taking up this post. Ofsted has a crucial role to play in the drive to raise standards, especially for disadvantaged students. Teachers, parents, pupils, the local community and government all need to be able to rely on the assessment of a school’s performance. Above all, they want to be confident about the quality of teaching and leadership – the bedrock of all successful schools.

The previous chairman of Ofsted was Zenna Atkins, whose term ended on 31 August 2010. John Roberts, an existing board member, was appointed interim chairman from 1 September for up to six months.

Baroness Morgan of Huyton has been an adviser to the global board of ARK, a children’s charity, since 2005. She serves on a number of public bodies including the advisory committee of the Institute of Education, and is chairman of the Morgan Inquiry to encourage 18- to 24-year-olds to volunteer. She is a school governor, has a PGCE from London University and an MA in Comparative Education from the Institute of Education, and she has worked as a secondary school teacher. She was previously political secretary to Tony Blair, director of government relations at 10 Downing Street and a minster of state for equalities at the Cabinet Office. She was created a life peer in 2001.

The baroness is due to start at Ofsted on 1 March.