Schools: Vocational Education

(asked on 9th January 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what sanctions are available to (a) Ofsted, (b) Regional Schools Commissioners and (c) his Department to ensure that schools comply with section 2 of the Further Education and Technical Act 2017.


Answered by
Anne Milton Portrait
Anne Milton
This question was answered on 16th January 2019

Section 2 of the Technical and Further Education Act (2017), often referred to as the ‘Baker Clause’, requires all maintained schools and academies to make sure that there is an opportunity for a range of education and training providers to meet pupils in year 8 to year 13 for the purpose of informing them about approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships.

We introduced the ‘Baker Clause’ in January 2018 and published statutory guidance on careers guidance and on access for education and training providers which explains what schools must do to comply with this law. This is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/careers-guidance-provision-for-young-people-in-schools.

In the event of suspected non-compliance with the duty and statutory guidance, our approach is for the parties involved to try to resolve the matter locally. This might include Regional Schools Commissioners or local authorities discussing and addressing any barriers to compliance with multi-academy trusts, individual academies or maintained schools.

If the department finds fault with a school’s policies following a complaint, then remedial action could be taken. This could include an official or a minister from the department writing to the school and, ultimately, the possibility of the Secretary of State using intervention powers.

Regarding Ofsted, this is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to the right hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

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