The government’s schools bill is a “real grab for power” that will effectively make Nadhim Zahawi “the chief education officer” for thousands of schools, former ministers warned today.
The draft law is currently making its way through the House of Lords. It seeks sweeping new powers over schools which mean the Department for Education could dictate the make-up of trust boards, the length of the school day and even staff pay.
During its second reading today, former education secretaries and ministers expressed deep misgivings about the proposals, while Labour and the Liberal Democrats revealed plans to try to amend the legislation to require consultation on the new powers and greater transparency.
