§ Mrs. Faithasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why there has been a delay in implementing the provisions of the Education Act 1980 to apply to instruments of government to Church-aided schools.
§ Dr. BoysonOnly schools having instruments of government made after 1 July 1981 are currently required to have governing bodies in line with the 1980 Act. Others have been encouraged to adopt this on a voluntary basis and many are doing so. In the case of Church and other voluntary schools, instruments of government are made by the Secretary of State following a request from the voluntary body responsible for the school. Many applications have been received and are being processed. In other cases, the necessary preliminary local consultations have yet to be completed.