HL Deb 30 October 1986 vol 481 cc807-8

33 Clause 18, page 23, line 8, at end insert—

  1. "(2) The articles of government for every such school shall provide for it to be the duty of the governing body, when considering the content of the secular curriculum for the school, to have regard—
    1. (a) to any representations which are made to them, with regard to that curriculum by any persons connected with the community served by the school; and
    2. (b) to any such representations which—
    1. (i) are made to them by the chief officer of police; and
    2. (ii) are connected with his responsibilities.
    (3) Where the governing body of any such school make any statement in writing of their policy as to the secular curriculum for the school they shall furnish a copy of it to the head teacher; and the head teacher shall make it available, at all reasonable times, to persons wishing to inspect it.".

Baroness Young

My Lords, I beg to move that this House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 33. This extends to aided and special agreement schools the same requirements as those in Clause 17(2), which apply to county, controlled and maintained special schools, that the governing body have regard to representations from the community and the police when formulating their statement of the secular curriculum. However, it acknowledges that aided and special agreement school governing bodies may not make a statement on the content of the secular curriculum. The second part of the amendment provides that, if such a statement is made, the head teacher is to allow public access to it at the school.

The churches and other voluntary school interests were consulted before the amendments were tabled, and I understand that they welcomed them. It was accepted that it is clearly right that the community served by an aided school should have, and be seen to have, the same right to be heard on the secular curriculum as that served by any other type of school.

Moved, That this House do agree with the Commons in the said amendment.—(Baroness Young.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

4.15 p.m.