Education and Inspections Bill

I want to explore two issues—the value of independence in dealing with poor performance and choice. Information is available on demonstrable demand for independence. An experiment took place in the 1990s, when grant-maintained status was offered with significant financial inducements. We are not repeating that experiment this time, and one must therefore assume that that offer was unattractive to many schools. In the 1990s, roughly 3 per cent. of primaries and 25 per cent. of secondaries went down the grant-maintained route, and almost all those schools are now foundation schools. In the past seven years, about 20 schools have converted to foundation status, so the offer has been there, but it has not been taken. In August last year, greater freedom was given to apply for foundation status, but I believe that the Department for Education and Skills is currently considering only a further six applications, which does not suggest that people are battering at the gate. Why are Labour Members so concerned about the value of independence? The evidence on outcomes is far from clear. The performance of foundation schools at the primary level compared with Ofsted outcomes for failing schools that are in special measures or that have been warned about the need to improve indicates that the performance of foundation schools and community schools is identical. The Government’s model suggests that community or foundation status makes no difference to avoiding such sanctions, but there is evidence that there may be a gain at secondary level. I will support the Bill tonight. As hon. Members who have listened to me know, I generally endorse the involvement of the private and voluntary sectors in the provision of state services. I therefore sympathise with some of the principles behind the Bill, but I am concerned about some of the practical thinking. Given what I have seen, small primaries need to be protected from some of the risks of going down that path—in my constituency, one primary reverted to community status after an appalling experience dealing with the freedoms that some hon. Members have commended. On choice, there is no way round the fact that if one grants greater choice, one needs extra resources to pay for extra capacity, and I have heard no assurance to date that that will be offered.