Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

The Bill will give greater powers for the government to intervene in failing schools coupled with powers to ensure local authorities intervene early to address underperforming schools.

The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill will also provide an apprenticeship place for a “suitably qualified” young person from 2013. This combines the draft Education and Skills Bill with the draft Apprenticeships Bill launched earlier in the year.

The Bill will also put Sure Start Children’s Centres on a statutory footing.

The creation of a new non-departmental public body to provide “light-touch” support on pre-19 education and skills (Young People’s Learning Agency) is also planned in the Bill.

The Bill puts Ofqual on a statutory footing to safeguard standards and maintain confidence in the exams and qualifications system by regulating it. Ofqual will become accountable to parliament, and the QCA will develop into the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency.

Progress

House of Commons

First reading: February 4 2009 [HC Bill 55]

Second reading: February 23 2009