§ 2.46 p.m.
§ Lord GainfordMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to improve the effectiveness of Her Majesty's Schools' Inspectorate.
§ The Earl of SwintonMy Lords, the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales published a policy statement on the work of Her Majesty's Inspectorate on 24th March. Copies are available in the Library and one has been sent to my noble friend Lord Gainford.
§ Lord GainfordMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer; I have indeed received a copy of the report. Does my noble friend have any information as to the effectiveness of the inspectorate in connection with independent schools and also with schools which help handicapped or invalided children?
§ The Earl of SwintonYes, my Lords. Under the Education Act 1981 a local education authority in England or Wales is able to place a child who is the subject of a statement of special educational need at an independent school only if the school is approved by the Secretary of State as being suitable for such children or if he consents to an individual placement. Individual schools applying for approval have been required to meet similar standards in respect of premises, staff, education and care to those required in maintained specialist schools. Each school applying for approval will be visited by a team of HMIs before a decision is taken. The team will conduct a rigorous examination of all aspects of the school's functioning. In addition, independent schools for handicapped pupils have regularly been included in HMI's programmes of school inspections—and informal visits are often made to these schools.
§ Baroness Fisher of RednalMy Lords, how does the Secretary of State make the effectiveness of Her Majesty's Inspectorate applicable in schools? I am reminded of the difficulty in Oxford at the present time, where a confidential letter was sent from HMI that textbook provision and staffing levels in primary and secondary schools there are inadequate, but where the chief education officer has failed to convince the elected members that there is a necessity to spend more money on these two items in order to avoid falling standards.
If Her Majesty's Inspectorate are to be effective, quite obviously their recommendations have to be put into operation and practice. What steps does the Secretary of State take to ensure that the inspectorate's reports are taken up and put into practice, when the inspectorate have made adverse reports?
§ The Earl of SwintonThe Government have introduced a more systematic follow-up arrangement for all reports published since the beginning of this year on schools or colleges providing full-time education for 16 to 18 year olds. Under these arrangements those reponsible for the institution—normally the local education authority, and this will obviously be the case in Oxford—are asked to report after three months on the actions taken in the light of the report. The follow-up arrangements will be extended to cover all reports shortly.
§ Lord BeloffMy Lords, does my noble friend the Minister not agree that the work of the inspectorate is likely to be hampered if they are asked to undertake other tasks? In particular, has the attention of my noble friend been drawn to the apparent insistence by the ILEA under its new leadership that the inspectorate should investigate political teaching in schools—a matter that has excited opposition from many heads of maintained schools?
§ The Earl of SwintonMy Lords, as I understand it, the great point about HMI is that they are independent; independent of the Secretary of State and independent of LEAs. Therefore, I do not believe that a local education authority can tell them what they have to do and what to inspect. Their reports are being published. I think they are a very splendid body of people, and thank goodness they are independent!
§ Lord Alexander of PotterhillMy Lords, does it create difficulty in a local education authority if Her Majesty's Inspectors say, "You must spend more money on books or other equipment", and the Secretary of State says, "You must not do so"?
§ The Earl of SwintonMy Lords, I think if that were the case the answer is that it almost certainly would.
§ Lord Hatch of LusbyMy Lords, before 1979 it was always the practice that one HMI specialised in the teaching of international affairs, which is a very important issue throughout the schools. I understand that in 1979—
§ Lord Hatch of LusbyMy Lords, I understand that in 1979 this post was removed. Can the noble Earl tell the House whether this post has been replaced or if Her Majesty's Government have any intention of replacing it?
§ The Earl of SwintonMy Lords, I will have to write to the noble Lord with details about the post he describes. Her Majesty's Government have decided that the present complement of 430 inspectors in England is to be sustained, and that the number in post, currently 385, will be brought up to complement as a matter of urgency. The size of the inspectorate in Wales is being reviewed. But, as I said, on this particular post I will have to write to the noble Lord with the answer.