Department for Children, Schools and Families: live consultations

Children’s Safeguarding Performance Information Consultation

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:00:00 GMT

This consultation asks for views on the proposed children's safeguarding national performance information dataset, how the data is published and how the locally held information (published December 2011) is used.

Consultation on the Raising the Participation Age (RPA) regulations

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:00:00 GMT

From summer 2013 all young people will be required to participate in education or training until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17, and from summer 2015 onwards until their 18^th birthday. Participating in education or training brings benefits for young people, and also for the economy and wider society. This consultation seeks views on elements of how RPA will work in practice - by consulting on the policies that will form the secondary legislation. It covers aspects such as the definition of residency; the definition of full-time education; any wider ways of working that (when combined with part-time study) could be considered as participating, and the amount and use of any fines.

Removing the duty on maintained schools to follow the information and communication technology (ICT) Programmes of Study, Attainment Targets and statutory assessment arrangements

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:15:00 GMT

As part of the Government's broader vision for technology in schools, and as a way of removing barriers to innovation and stimulating change in schools, we are seeking views on the proposal that the existing ICT Programmes of Study and associated Attainment Targets should be disapplied at all four key stages, along with the statutory assessment arrangements at Key Stage 3, from September 2012. ICT will remain a compulsory subject at all key stages, pending the outcome of the current review of the National Curriculum in England. This consultation is being conducted under section 96 of the Education Act 2002.

Consultation On Proposed Changes To The School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009 To Require Governing Bodies To Share Information With Prospective Employers About Whether Head Teachers And Teachers Have Been In Capability Procedures

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:30:00 GMT

This consultation asks for views on proposed changes to the School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009 to introduce new requirements on governing bodies in maintained schools to share information about whether a teacher or head teacher at their school has been in capability procedures, when asked to do so by a prospective school employer.

The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation: Determination of Turnover for Monetary Penalties

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Amendments to the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 introduced by the Education Act 2011 give Ofqual the power to impose a monetary penalty on a recognised awarding organisation if it appears to Ofqual that the organisation has failed to comply with a condition to which the recognition is subject. The monetary penalty must not exceed 10% of the organisation's turnover and the purpose of this consultation is to determine the turnover on which the limit is based. Ofqual will consult separately on its policy for imposing a monetary penalty, and other related changes, in January 2012. The views expressed as part of this consultation will inform the secondary legislation which will determine turnover and so set the maximum monetary penalty Ofqual may impose on an awarding organisation. We expect the secondary legislation to be put before Parliament in spring 2012.

A consultation on revised statutory guidance and regulations for exclusions from schools and pupil referral units in England

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:00:00 GMT

The purpose of this consultation is to gather views on the Department's revised exclusion guidance document and regulations relating to exclusion. This includes proposals for how regulations will be applied to Academies, including Free Schools. The guidance is aimed at head teachers, governing bodies, local authorities, independent review panel members, clerks and special educational needs experts. However, in addition, we would welcome responses from parents, pupils, voluntary/community organisations and representative organisations of the above groups.

In both the guidance and this consultation ‘head teacher' applies equally to the teachers in charge at a pupil referral unit (PRU) and Principals of Academies. ‘Governing body' applies equally to a PRU management committee and ‘governor' to member of a management committee. Apart from where specifically stated, the duties of a local authority to arrange an independent review panel also apply to Academy Trusts.

We welcome suggestions for brief inserts and/or revisions to the new guidance. However, our aim is to increase the effectiveness of the guidance by ensuring that it is concise and directly relevant to the exclusion process. It is not the intention to widen the scope of the document or lengthen it considerably. New guidance on the use of alternative provision will be released next year and the exclusion guidance will be updated to cross-refer where appropriate.

The consultation will last nine weeks. This is to enable the Department to publish the finalised regulations and guidance in sufficient time for the new exclusion process to begin in September 2012.