Archived decisions

2006

November

New nutritional standards;

Schools and local authorities may provide free school meals including breakfast;

December

Creation of the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and skills;

2007

January

Abolition of the Code of Practice on local authority and school relations;

February

Duty on local authorities to make arrangements to enable them to identify children in their area who are not receiving a suitable education;

Duty on local authorities to appoint School Improvement Partners for maintained schools;

Fair access to educational opportunity and a tighter admissions framework;

Requirement to act in accordance with a strengthened School Admissions Code;

Wider powers for local authorities to secure the admission of children in care to the most suitable school;

April

Duty to secure access for young people to positive activities;

Duty on governing bodies to promote well-being and community cohesion, and to have regard to the Children and Young People's Plan;

Duty on local authorities to prepare and publish a sustainable school travel strategy;

Enhancement and clarification of local authorities' duties, powers and responsibilities in relation to schools that are letting down their pupils;

School discipline: behaviour policies; new statutory power to discipline; use of force; detention; confiscations;

May

Duty on local authorities to promote high standards and the fulfilment of potential, diversity and choice;

Duty on local authorities to respond to representations from parents who are not satisfied with the local provision of schools;

A new strategic role for local authorities. Requirement for local authorities and governing bodies for consultation, publication and decision-making proposals to open, close or make changes to a school;

Process and arrangements for governing bodies to consult, publish and decide proposals to acquire or remove a Trust or a majority of Trust governors, and safeguards around Trusts;

September

Entitlement for every pupil to study at least two sciences to GCSE level;

Extension of parenting contracts and orders to address misbehaviour;

Exclusions: penalty notices or prosecution for parents where excluded pupils are found in a public place during school hours in first five days;

Exclusions: requirement for schools and local authorities to provide alternative education from the sixth day of an exclusion;

Exclusions: reintegration interviews for excluded pupils;

2008

September

Extension of duty on local authorities to provide free transport for disadvantaged pupils;

Powers to establish pilot travel schemes in Pathfinder local authorities;

Entitlement to new specialised Diplomas for 14 - 19 year olds.