The cancellation of exams including GCSEs and A Levels in summer 2020 led to a highly controversial process for issuing grades to students. This paper looks at plans for awarding qualifications in summer 2021. Updated to reflect Ofqual's January 2021 consultation.
Documents to download
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Academies under the Labour Government (151 KB, PDF)
This note provides an account of the academies programme under the last Labour Government, and outlines key reports and evaluations of the programme.
Academies during this period were independent schools, established and managed by sponsors, and mostly funded by central government rather than through local authorities. No fees were paid by parents.
The academies programme was a major part of the Labour education strategy to improve educational standards, particularly in disadvantaged communities and areas of poor educational performance. The programme built on the City Technology Colleges initiative introduced by the Conservative Government in the 1980s. Initially sponsors were required to provide significant contributions to the capital costs of academies but the requirements were changed, and abolished for universities and high-performing schools sponsoring academies.
There was much debate about the effect of academies on educational performance during this period. The Labour Government stressed that, in general, standards in academies were rising at a faster rate than the national average. However, critics questioned whether academy status in itself accounts for success, and stressed that some academies had serious shortcomings. Concerns were also raised about the influence of sponsors, and about accountability.
The rapid expansion of the academies programme, with all schools invited to become academies, has been a defining feature of education policy under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Government. The Library standard note Free schools and academies: frequently asked questions, SN/SP/7059, provides information on the academies programme as it now exists, as well as the free schools programme.
The note relates to England only.
Documents to download
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Academies under the Labour Government (151 KB, PDF)
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A debate on the UN International Day of Education has been scheduled for Thursday 28 January 2021 in the main House of Commons Chamber. The debate was selected by the Backbench Business Committee and will be led by Harriett Baldwin MP.
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On Monday 18 January 2021, there will be an Opposition Day Debate on access to remote education and the quality of free school meals. This landing page highlights some of the available data and also provides links to existing Library and other briefings on these issues.