These are important topics, but the Bill contains much more. Inparticular, the section on behaviour and discipline will have enormousimpact on the primary stakeholders of education - pupils themselves. Yetit has received little media attention, and next to no comment inparliamentary debates.
When Sir Alan Steer's review on behaviour and discipline was publishedin October 2005, NCB welcomed its sensible proposals, which reiteratethe view that behaviour is a whole-school issue. If behaviour policiesare to be effective, pupils and their parents must have a say indeveloping and reviewing them. What's more, education staff mustthemselves adhere to the policies.
But behaviour, as envisaged in the Bill, is decidedly one-sided. In itspresent form, the legislation allows parents and a sample of pupils tobe consulted on broad principles of behaviour as set by the schoolgovernors.
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