Educators are divided on the government’s proposed Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, with some supporting it for its potential to enhance fairness and accountability, while others are concerned about its impact on innovation in academy schools.
Promoted by the Department for Education (DfE) as a means to revamp the education system, the bill aims to elevate school standards, reinforce attendance policies, and ensure that children receive a comprehensive education that prioritizes their wellbeing.
The legislation also includes provisions to boost school accountability, especially for academies, by granting more oversight to the DfE.
Katharine Birbalsingh, headteacher of Michaela School in Wembley, north London, criticized the bill, calling it «absolutely appalling.»
«I’m really worried because, currently, school leaders have the autonomy to make decisions that are best for their students,» she told Sky News.
«This bill will strip away those freedoms.»
Ms. Birbalsingh, also known as ‘Britain’s strictest headteacher’, added: «We were unlucky because we could have had Wes Streeting as education secretary, which would have been fine. Unfortunately, we got Bridget Phillipson.»
«She [Ms. Phillipson] is very arrogant. She has just come in and said, ‘I know what I’m doing, I’ll do as I please’.»
However, some argue that academies operate independently and lack accountability when it comes to addressing parental complaints.
The bill will mandate all schools to adhere to the national curriculum and employ teachers with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or those working towards it.
The founder of Oasis Academies, Steve Chalke, expressed optimism about the proposed changes, stating, «We’re excited about the changes because we believe that education has been in a very poor state for the last decade or more.
«Schools have faced resource shortages and significant challenges with teacher recruitment and retention.
«We see this important bill as a step towards addressing all of these issues.»
The bill also aims to provide all primary school children with breakfast and impose limits on school uniforms.
This would prevent schools from having more than three items of branded uniform clothing, potentially alleviating concerns about the cost of uniforms.
Mr. Chalke said: «I support collaborative efforts to create the best opportunities for every young person and their family.
«Because behind every struggling child is usually a parent who is struggling as well.»
He added: «We at Oasis are enthusiastic about these developments, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have questions.
«It doesn’t mean we are blindly following, but it is our responsibility to actively participate in discussions on how academies can work more closely with local authorities.»