E-petition debate: Children and bereavement
A debate on child bereavement will take place in Westminster Hall on 2 December 2024. The subject for this debate was determined by the Petitions Committee and the debate will be led by Kevin Bonavia MP.
How academy schools developed under the last Labour Government
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.
Academies under the Labour Government (151 KB , PDF)
A debate on child bereavement will take place in Westminster Hall on 2 December 2024. The subject for this debate was determined by the Petitions Committee and the debate will be led by Kevin Bonavia MP.
In the 2024 Autumn Budget the Chancellor announced the introduction of VAT on private school fees from 1 January 2025. This briefing discusses the background to the government's decision and the legislation to bring it into effect.
There will be a Westminster Hall debate relating to holidays during school term time on 25 November 2024 at 4:30pm, opened by Dave Robertson MP. The Petitions Committee agreed to the debate in response to an e-petition that attracted over 250,000 signatures.