School leaders are demanding clarity on the future of policies such as the “parent pledge” and the 32.5-hour school week following the axing of the Schools Bill.
Education secretary Gillian Keegan has confirmed that the Bill will not progress in Parliament but has told MPs on the Education Select Committee this week that she is still “committed to the objectives” behind the Bill.
The Schools Bill, which had been awaiting its third reading in Parliament, included the headline requirement that every school should be on the way to joining or be part of a multi-academy trust by 2030. It also gave significant and controversial powers to the secretary of state to set standards and control the activities of academy schools.
However, there were a number of other more immediate policies including a mandatory register for children not in school and new attendance policy requirements.
