Education and Skills Bill, 2007

The bill went before the House of Commons on 28th Nov. 2007. The main focus of the bill was on the post-16 provision. Here are the main points:

- There is clarification for school governing bodies about their role in arranging for young people to work elsewhere.
- Learning and Skills Council are responsible for ensuring learning opportunities exist.
- Local authorities are responsible for ensuring young people are engaged with education and/or training post 16.
- Providers of post-16 provision must tell connexions if a young person leaves training so they can be supported by the connexions service.
- Employers taking on a young person (for more than 20hrs a week) has to be satisfied that they are attending training or education.
- The service of Connexions will transfer to Local Authorities, which should adhere to the Quality Standards for Information, Advice and Guidance (issued 31st Oct 2007). This along with careers advice in schools must be delivered impartially.
- Additional requirements are also placed on the local authority if the young person has special educational needs.
- The Learning & Skills Council will have to ensure that adults have the right to free basic numeracy and literacy education and that those between 19-25 have access to free training up to level 3.