HL Deb 12 November 1987 vol 489 cc1469-70

3.24 p.m.

Lord Dean of Beswick

My 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 whether students in sixth form colleges will be able to be members of the governing bodies of their colleges.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Education and Science (Baroness Hooper)

My Lords, the Government have no plans to change the requirements of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 concerning the composition of school governing bodies, which means that only in circumstances where pupils are co-opted will there be pupil governors in sixth form colleges.

Lord Dean of Beswick

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Is she aware of the disappointment that that will create among sixth form students? Does she agree that the Government are missing an excellent chance by not giving them the right to places on the governing bodies in a day and age where we are constantly telling young people to take more responsibility and be better citizens for it? Will it not be a tragedy if the Government miss this chance to show that they have faith in the younger people of this generation?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, the Government's view, which was stated on a number of occasions during the passage of the 1986 Act, is that it is not generally appropriate for school pupils to be members of the governing body of their schools. Were they to become members, it would be necessary to exclude them from consideration of a substantial number of issues and this would detract from the principle that the governing body should act collectively.

Baroness David

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the position of students in sixth form colleges is slightly different from that in other schools? Student governors are probably appointed in their second year of the sixth form when they may very well be 18 and considered responsible enough to vote at that age. They consider that it is quite insulting that they are not going to be allowed to be made governors. Is the Minister aware that I am a governor of a sixth form college? The students are extremely cross that they are no longer going to be able to be governors and I hope that with the new Education Bill coming up there will be a chance to rectify that.

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, I am delighted that the noble Baroness is able to speak from her own practical and personal experience. I am sorry to hear that there is this feeling among the students at sixth form colleges. Nevertheless, we believe that the decision (which as I have said was fully debated during the 1986 Act) was the correct one. However, we feel that schools should encourage the participation of senior students as much as possible in the general running and considerations of the welfare of schools.

Baroness David

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the students like to have a vote?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, I feel sure of that and I hope that once they are 18 they will exercise that vote in the many opportunities that are available to them.