Education Bill

107A: After Clause 35, insert the following new Clause— ““Local schools commissioner (1) A local authority shall appoint a fit person with the approval of the Secretary of State to be the schools commissioner. (2) The schools commissioner shall promote— (a) collaboration between schools with the aim of ensuring all publicly financed schools in the local authority area achieve a standard of education set by the Secretary of State, (b) parental confidence in all schools, and (c) fair access to all schools. (3) The Secretary of State shall delegate to the schools commissioner his or her functions in agreement with the local authority which are considered necessary for the schools commissioner to fulfil his or her duty under subsection (2). (4) The local authority shall delegate to the schools commissioner functions considered necessary for the schools commissioner to fulfil his or her duty under subsection (2). (5) Notwithstanding any function delegated to the schools commissioner by subsections (3) and (4), the commissioner shall advise admission authorities for schools on— (a) such matters connected with the determination of admission arrangements, and (b) such other matters connected with the admission of pupils, as may be prescribed. (6) Notwithstanding any function delegated to the schools commissioner by subsections (3) and (4), the schools commissioner shall advise the local authority, head teachers and school governing bodies on— (a) promoting good behaviour and discipline on the part of pupils, (b) reducing persistent absence by pupils, (c) identifying children missing education and those who are not on a school admission register, (d) the strategy for all children of compulsory school age to receive full-time education appropriate to their age, aptitude and ability and any special educational need, (e) directing a school to admit a child who is not on a school admissions register, (f) promoting parents’ views on admissions arrangements in their area. (7) The schools commissioner will be advised by an advisory board constituted according to regulations which must provide for half the membership to be made up of parent governors but also include representatives of head teachers, teachers, governors, proprietors of Academies and the local authority. (8) Regulations shall make provision for the meetings and proceedings of the advisory board and the manner in which advice is to be given to the schools commissioner. (9) For the purposes of this section, a school includes all schools maintained by the local authority and all Academies and City Technology Colleges located within the area of the local authority.””