Key points of the education bill

• every school to be able to become a foundation school, acquire a foundation and allow that foundation to appoint a majority of governors
• local authorities to continue to be able to propose community schools in competitions for new schools
• parents can complain about a school to Ofsted
• councils empowered to require a weak school to collaborate with another school or to work with a partner on school improvement.

• existing ban on selection by ability reaffirmed
• ban on interviewing prospective pupils and their parents
• schools must "act in accordance" with the admissions code, rather than simply "have regard to" it
• local admissions forums can refer objections to the Schools Adjudicator and produce an annual report on fair access in their areas
• parents get council help in choosing a school
• free transport extended to help the poorest families

• nutritional standards applied to school meals
• councils can offer free meals to all if they wish
• teenagers entitled to new vocational diplomas
• schools and colleges to collaborate in offering diplomas
• duty on councils to ensure all children achieve their potential
• all staff in schools get power to discipline misbehaving pupils even out of school
• detention can be imposed on weekends
• parenting contracts and orders are extended
• parents made responsible for excluded children

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Department for Education and Skills: the bill
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