HC Deb 15 October 1996 vol 282 c880W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for North Thanet, (Mr. Gale) of 19 December 1995,Official Report, column 1017 if she will publish the advice from Her Majesty's chief inspector on a more targeted approach in the second cycle of inspection. [39919]

Mr. Robin Squire

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 16 September that she had accepted in full the chief inspector's recommendations to move to a more targeted programme of inspection. The key elements of the new arrangements, which will take effect from the end of the first cycle, are that: each school will be subject to a full inspection within a six-year period, instead of every four years as at present: weaker schools should be inspected more frequently; seriously weak schools will be specifically identified within registered inspectors' reports; and that special visits will be made to schools which are models of good practice.

The Secretary of State has deposited copies of the chief inspector's recommendations and of her response in the Libraries of both Houses.