Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

I thank all noble Lords for their contributions. The noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, obviously supports the academies’ success. We all share her concerns about the schools that are still underachieving. That is why we on these Benches believe that all schools should be able to free themselves from local authority control. However, we should remind ourselves that some academies serve underachieving communities and have raised educational attainment in some communities. My noble friend Lady Perry set out fluently the difficulties that academies have faced and the situations that they have managed to turn around in some of our most deprived areas. My noble friend Lord Elton mentioned the difficulties that some academies are already facing in respect of sixth-form provision. As ever, my noble friend Lord Eccles raised the serious technical points that the Bill seems to overlook. I listened very carefully to the noble Baroness’s response. I find it incredibly difficult to understand why the Government believe that academies have to be delivered through the YPLA. I am pleased that the Government will meet representatives from the academies movement tomorrow and I look forward to hearing about the outcome of that meeting. However, I remain thoroughly unconvinced that the Government’s response meets our concerns. I shall read very carefully what the Minister has said but I assure her that if we do not find the government amendments satisfactory we shall return to the relevant amendments on Report. I do not think that anyone on this side of the Committee is convinced by the Government’s arguments. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 155B withdrawn. Clause 64 agreed.