HC Deb 30 March 2004 vol 419 cc1385-6W
Mr. Maude

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) boarding schools and (b) boarding facilities within independent schools have closed since the National Care Standards Commission began its inspections. [164253]

Mr. Miliband

My right hon. Friend receives advice about welfare provision in independent boarding schools from the National Care Standards Commission, for the purposes of ensuring that the regulatory requirements relating to safeguarding and promoting welfare are met. Since April 2002, when the Commission began its inspections, none has resulted in enforcement action to close a school.

Mr. Maude

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which agencies have statutory authority to inspect or audit boarding schools. [164262]

Mr. Miliband

My right hon. Friend receives advice from the following agencies and authorities for the purposes of ensuring that boarding schools reach and maintain satisfactory standards of education, health, safety and welfareOfsted The Independent Schools Inspectorate, in the case of independent schools belonging to the Independent Schools Council The National Care Standards Commission Fire Authorities.

Mr. Maude

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many boarding schools have been examined by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in each of the last six financial yews; and how many were identified as having a significant defect. [164301]

Mr. Miliband

Independent Schools which belong to an association affiliated to the Independent Schools Council (ISC), have, since 1 January 1999, been subject to inspection by the Independent School; Inspectorate (ISI) under arrangements agreed between the Government and the ISC. These inspections provide advice to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on whether member schools meet the regulatory requirements which all independent schools must satisfy.

The number of boarding schools inspected by the ISI between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2003 is given in the table.

Number of boarding schools inspected by ISI
1999 38
2000 65
2001 94
2002 89
2003 87

None of the inspections by ISI resulted in enforcement action to remove schools from the Register of Independent Schools, as any weaknesses identified by the inspections were addressed.