An innovative proposal under the Power to Innovate can be submitted from:

  • schools
  • foundations
  • colleges of further education
  • local authorities

If the application is agreed, a time-limited order of up to three years - with a possible one off extension of a further three years - is made to allow the trial to proceed.

Key criteria

There are no preconceptions about the kind of ideas that could be supported, however all applicants for the Power to Innovate will need to:

  • identify the legislation that must be modified - or set aside - to allow their innovative project to go ahead
  • provide evidence to show why they believe their proposal could raise educational standards
  • consider the likely effect of the trial on all the pupils and students who may be affected (e.g. there should be no detrimental effect on pupils or students with special educational needs)
  • provide evidence that all those likely to be affected have been consulted and given the opportunity to comment on the proposal
  • plan how they would revert to existing practice if permanent changes were not made to legislation - bearing in mind the  time-limited period
  • plan how they will monitor and evaluate the effect of the changes
  • inform the Department of the outcomes

Innovative ideas may not always be successful but they may teach valuable lessons that could inform future practice.

What won't Power to Innovate support?

Power to Innovate can only apply to education legislation.

School applicants should be aware that past experience has made it clear that applications seeking to reduce contact hours between teachers and pupils are rarely agreed. Proposals need clearly to demonstrate what benefits - in terms of raising educational standards - they would deliver, to outweigh the loss of teaching time.

Proposals looking to avoid Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) are unlikely to succeed as it is difficult to argue that these could contribute to raising educational standards.

There is provision in the Education Act 2002 for a 'curriculum experiments power' which should be used by schools who seek disapplication of the curriculum.