What the new Bill means for you

IT was defiant talk. Ruth Kelly arrived at a West London school yesterday morning fresh from being interviewed on Radio 4 about the government's new Education Bill. She felt, she said, that she was sure her colleagues would now reunite and back the Government's eighth major Education Bill in nine years.

But her confident words belied the precarious situation the Government is now in, being forced to rely on the Conservatives to ensure its Bill is passed. Last night, the signs were that the Conservatives would back the new 'watered down' plans.

But just how far has the Government had to go to ensure the Bill gets through.

Not far enough, according to some critics. The concessions came after about 100 Labour MPs and senior party figures, including Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, had systematically lined up to attack the proposals, fearing a "back-door" return to pupil selection.

But yesterday there were rumblings that concessions had not gone far enough. Louise Ellman, the Liverpool Riverside MP, said: ''The concern is that this is about fragmentation of the education service even further.

"If these changes do increase attainment in low-achieving areas, that would be a success, but the evidence for that is not at all clear.

''Indeed, removing powers from the local authorities, who are there to act in the interest of the whole community, is not likely to achieve success for areas which need more support."

So, what changes have been made to the Bill and how will it affect schools in our region? We take a look at what the Bill will mean to parents and schools.

QWhat are the main elements to the reforms?

AMinisters say they want to give schools more freedom. They want to allow parents, faith groups, universities and businesses to set up new "trust schools" based on the foundation schools, dozens of which are already in existence.

These will see people take control of their own buildings, land, staff and manage their own admissions policy. The Government believes the best way to raise standards is to encourage innovation in schools away from the "stifling" control of local councils.

QWhat fears have been raised over the proposals so far?

ACritics have said that while successful schools become more popular, those less favoured by parents will end up entering a spiral of decline. Fewer pupils mean less money which means more school closures.

The Bill says that failing schools will be given one year to improve or they will face being closed down.Trust schools will be answerable to central government, as opposed to the local authority, but concerns have been raised that this could mean that the Government could be a more distant and less responsive partner.

People are also wary of moves to let parents or religious groups "interfere" with schools. Trust schools will be allowed to opt out of the national curriculum and there are worries some religious bodies may end up dictating what youngsters learn.

Keith Porteous Wood, from the National Secular Society, says: ''Religious organisations already control a third of our education system, and under these new plans this stranglehold will increase yet further.

''These new schools will increase selection, often handing the process over to priests and imams.

"Those without a reference from one of these clerics will often be unable to stand a chance of getting their child into a publicly-funded school, even though it might be right on their doorstep."

QWhat moves has the Government made to allay fears?

AMany Labour critics had feared that giving trust schools freedom to run their own admission policies would allow schools to cream off the most talented pupils in the area, leaving the less academic ones to go to the worst comprehensives. But the Bill explicitly bans schools from introducing more selection of pupils on academic ability. Schools will have to "act in accordance" with the national admissions code and they will be banned from interviewing prospective parents. But teachers fear the moves may not go far enough.

QWhat else is in the Bill? Will my children end up getting detention at weekends?

AThey just might. Teachers will be given a clear legal right to discipline pupils who behave badly, including the right to use "reasonable force", which teaching unions have welcomed. They will have the power to make troublemakers attend detention on Saturday mornings and during school holidays and force them to stay behind after class to do their homework.

But it has yet to made clear who will run the detentions. Teachers have already stated they are reluctant to increase their workload by coming in at weekends and school holidays to preside over detentions. The extra powers will also coincide with the greater use of parenting orders.

QWhat will the Bill mean for parents?

AParents could face fines of up to £1,000 if they allow their children to roam the streets if they have been expelled or suspended from school.

But at the other end of the spectrum, parent groups will also have the power to ask for new schools to be set up. Local authorities will have to consider the demands of parents and build schools where necessary.

"Choice advisors" will help parents from disadvantaged backgrounds find the best schools for their children, and parents will have a say in the running of schools through new parents councils.

There will also be more free transport for pupils from poorer areas to travel to good local schools. Schools will provide more one-to-one tuition to help the brightest pupils and those who need extra catch-up lessons.

QWhat will the Bill mean for local authorities?

A As a concession to the Labour rebels, authorities will keep their power to build new schools, but Education Secretary Ruth Kelly has insisted that she approve the plans first.

Ms Kelly has said she will use her power to veto rarely and will not normally intervene. Local authorities will be seen as "strategic commissioners" of education rather than having primary responsibility for running schools, she said.