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  Education Bill - Schools Forums only set up if a majority of governing bodies voted for one - rejected
  
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  The majority Not-Content voters rejected an amendment[1] to the [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2002/ukpga_20020032_en_1 Education Bill]. The amendment would have only allowed [http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/schoolfunding/schoolsforums/ schools forums] to be set up if a majority of governing bodies of state schools in an area voted for one. However, the amendment was defeated.
  
  Schools forums are bodies set up by local education authorities (LEAs) to improve dialogue between schools and LEAs and decide on funding. The forum's representatives include members of governing bodies and headteachers within the LEA area.
  
  
  The main aims of the Education Bill were to[2]:
  
  * Allow schools to exempt themselves from laws which prevented them from innovating. However, this is dependent on the Secretary of State's approval.
  * Give good schools the option of qualifying for greater flexibility in the National Curriculum and teachers' pay.
  * Allow schools to join together in a federation under a single governing body.
  * Further regulate school admissions, exclusions and attendance policies.
  * Give the Secretary of State further powers to intervene in failing schools.
  * Introduce a new regulatory regime for independent schools.
  
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  * [1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?gid=2002-05-14a.191.3 Baroness Blatch], House of Lords, 14 May 2002
  
  * [2] [http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/educationoverview/educationact/summary/ TeacherNet Summary], 17 September 2002
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  