Queen's Speech outlines education and crime bill policies
Charlotte Goddard
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Queen unveiled details of legislation to guarantee high educational standards and make parents take responsibility for their child's antisocial behaviour during her speech to Parliament.
The Children, Schools and Families Bill, the legislation that will implement the government's 21st Century Schools white paper as well as other proposals, aims to "provide guarantees for parents and pupils setting out what they can expect from a 21st century schools system".
It will include a licensing scheme for teachers, curriculum reforms including reforms to the primary curriculum following the Rose review, a home educators' registration system and new powers for Secretaries of State to intervene in failing youth offending.
Philip Parkin, general secretary of education professionals union Voice, said he was concerned the advent of the next general election would cause uncertainty about whether the bill would be passed.
Parkin said: "The government will be setting out its proposed programme of legislation but, with the election due in the first half of next year, it seems likely that some of the bills will not make it through Parliament in time.
"Those who work in education will therefore be subject to uncertainty about whether some of the proposed measures will impact on their working lives or, depending on the result of the election, never see the light of day."
The Crime and Security Bill, also mentioned in the Queen's Speech, aims to "protect communities by ensuring that parents take responsibility for their children's antisocial behaviour and tackling youth gang crime".
The legislation will introduce a mandatory assessment of parenting needs whenever a 10- to 15-year-old is being considered for an Antisocial Behaviour Order (Asbo), and impose parenting orders where the Asbo has been breached. It will also introduce a legal requirement to ensure airguns are stored out of the reach of children.
The Queen also mentioned the Child Poverty Bill, introduced into the House of Commons in June 2009, which aims to enshrine in law the commitment to eradicate child poverty by 2020.
Kate Green, chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said: "We are delighted the government have carried this bill over and hope that all parties continue their commitment to make its passing a priority in the remainder of the parliamentary term."
