§ Mr. GummerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many prosecutions in relation to the inadequacies of boarding quarters have been brought by the National Care Standards Commission against(a) the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference and Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools and (b) other independent boarding schools in each of the last five years. [125172]
§ Mr. MilibandThe National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) does not prosecute independent schools if there are inadequacies in their boarding provision. It reports deficiencies to the Department for Education and Skills which is the registration authority for independent schools.
My officials press independent schools to respond quickly to concerns raised by NCSC, and schools that fail to address these concerns may be served with a Notice of Complaint setting out the remedies we are seeking. If the concerns set out in the Notice of Complaint are not addressed, the Department will deregister and close the school.
During the last five years four boarding schools have been served with a Notice of Complaint on welfare grounds. One of these schools belonged to the Incorporated Association of Independent Schools, the others did not belong to the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference or any other association affiliated to the Independent Schools Council.