HC Deb 16 March 2004 vol 419 cc238-9W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the procedure for closing a school sixth form; whether such a decision is accountable to the whole local education authority; and whether there is a statutory appeal process. [160926]

Mr. Miliband

Proposals to close a school sixth form may be published by the LEA or Governing Body depending on the category of school. Proposals to close a school sixth form after two poor Ofsted reports may also be published by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). For both types of proposals the five stages in the process are consultation; publication; a six week representation period (one month in the case of LSC proposals); decision and implementation. LEAs may determine their own proposals to close schools sixth forms provided there are no objections to the proposals. Where there are objections—including from the school concerned—proposals fall to be considered by the School Organisation Committee (SOC) or schools adjudicator if the SOC cannot reach a unanimous decision. LEAs and LSCs are represented on SOCs along with other key groups.

As part of a reorganisation of 16–19 provision, the LSC can also publish a proposal to close a school sixth form following recommendations in an Ofsted Area Inspection report, or where they can demonstrate that the proposals will improve participation, raise standards or broaden the range of provision. The steps in this process are to publish a preliminary notice and consult for at least two months; publish formal proposals with a further two-month objections period; and submit the proposals to the Secretary of State one month later for a decision.

Neither the SOC nor the school adjudicator is accountable to the LEA. Apart from judicial review, there is no statutory appeals process following decisions by the SOC, the adjudicator or Secretary of State.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the procedure for opening a new school sixth form; and whether such a decision is made by the local education authority. [161388]

Mr. Charles Clarke

Proposals to open a new school sixth form may be published by the LEA, or the Governing Body of the school. The five stages in the process are consultation; publication; a six week representation period; decision and implementation. LEAs may determine their own proposals to open school sixth forms provided there are no objections to the proposals. All other proposals are determined by the School Organisation Committee (SOC) or schools adjudicator if the SOC cannot reach a unanimous decision.

As part of a reorganisation of 16–19 provision, the LSC can also publish proposals to open a school sixth form following recommendations of an Ofsted area inspection report or where they can demonstrate that the proposals will improve participation, raise standards or broaden the range of provision. The steps in this process are to publish a preliminary notice and consult for at least two months; publish formal proposals with a further two-month objections and comments period; and submit the proposals to the Secretary of State one month later for a decision.