Education Bill

We touched on this before when we had the debate, which seems a very long time ago, about the arrangements for Ofsted and exemption from inspections. I know that the noble Lord has strong views on that point which we will, no doubt, return to later. The short answer to his question is that I think he knows the answer to his question. It was a rhetorical question about whether it is possible that some of those schools could be exempt from inspection because if they have an outstanding Ofsted clarification the answer to that question is probably yes. We will discuss that further. Overall the legislation allows faith schools to maintain their religious ethos. We are replicating that position with regard to academies. The Bill makes clear the position of staff in VC schools converting to academy status, which I think noble Lords have welcomed. With that response, those reassurances and the commitment to speak further, I hope that the noble Baroness, Lady Turner of Camden, will feel able to withdraw her amendment.