Powers for Education Secretary to close schools unveiled in Education Bill

Under the Education Bill presented in the House of Commons today, the Secretary of State would be able to direct a local authority to close schools that have failed to comply with warning notices. Also included are plans to strengthen teachers’ powers to deal with bad behaviour and anonymity for teachers facing allegations made by pupils until charged.

Introducing the bill, Gove said: "We’re lucky that there are many teachers doing a fantastic job. But there are still too many schools that simply aren’t good enough. We must learn from other countries that do things better.

"We’re giving more powers for teachers to do their job properly, the ability to impose better discipline and freeing them from bureaucracy. The best schools will be freed from inspections so Ofsted will now concentrate on what matters — teaching and behaviour. 

"But we also need tough new power to take action when things go wrong. In the worst schools there will be new intervention powers. Ofsted will focus on the worst performing schools, where they are needed most. It is unacceptable that children should suffer in schools that are not doing a good job."

But shadow education secretary Andy Burnham accused the government of having a "backward-looking vision" for education.

"This government came into office promising freedom and autonomy for teachers — but their education reforms amount to a single, narrow vision imposed on every child in every school, with little evidence of how it will raise standards," he said. "It is a plan for an atomised school system that will not deliver for every child. But where we think the government is getting it right, we will support them — such as on anonymity for teachers facing false allegations and moves to improve behaviour in schools."

Reforms included in the Education Bill:

• The Secretary of State will be able to direct a local authority to close schools that are judged to be in special measures, require significant improvement, or have failed to comply with a warning notice
• Inspections will be focused on four key areas: pupil achievement; teaching; leadership and management; and behaviour and safety
• Ofqual will compare England’s exam standards against the highest performing systems in other countries
• Teachers and schools will be given powers to search for items that disrupt learning and expel violent pupils
• When pupils make allegations, teachers will be granted anonymity until charged
• Four non-departmental public bodies will be scrapped including the General Teaching Council and the School Support Staff Negotiating Body