Proposed new law to improve school governance backed by committee of AMs

A proposed new law aimed at driving collaboration in the education sector, improving school governance and improving the effective and efficient use of resources in education has been largely backed by a cross-party committee of Assembly Members.

The proposed Education (Wales) Measure would:

• place a duty on schools, colleges and local councils to consider collaborative working; give local councils the power to propose that schools within their area federate under a single governing body;

• give power to the Minister to require small schools to federate;

• place duties on local councils to provide training to school governors; and

• prevent schools in the future from changing category so as to become foundation schools and to prevent new foundation schools being established.

The National Assembly for Wales’s Legislation Committee No.5 has largely backed the proposed Measure in principle after scrutinising the legislation.

However, the Committee has called for the Minister to amend the collaboration objective contained in the Measure to be broadened to include driving up educational standards, as opposed to focusing solely on the effective and efficient use of resources.

“It was clear from the evidence we received that many respondents felt collaboration principally should be about raising standards and improving outcomes for learners,” said Committee Chair, Mark Isherwood AM.

“While we accept it is entirely appropriate that one of the main drivers for collaboration should be ‘the efficient and effective use of resources’, particularly in the current economic climate, we believe that appropriate emphasis should be placed on improving education standards and outcomes for learners.”

The Committee has also recommended that the proposed Measure is amended to ensure that local authorities consult interested parties, including pupils, parents and guardians before bringing forward proposals to federate schools under the legislation.