More education quangos at risk

24 Sep 2010

The leaked list of quangos at risk includes several well-known, and long-established, education bodies.

The list from the Cabinet Office, dated 26th August 2010, was leaked to the BBC 1 programme, The Politics Show. A 'leak' inquiry has been ordered.

Under the heading of the Department for Education there are 7 bodies that are to be abolished or privatised, 2 that face 'substantial reform', 1 to be retained and 7 'still to be decided'.

Some of those on the 'to be abolished' list were already known, such as Becta, the General Teaching Council for England, and the QCDA.

But new names on the 'to be abolished' list include:

the Teachers TV Board (a body separate from the TV channel which oversees the editorial independence of the government-funded service);
the School Support Staff Negotiating Body;
the School Food Trust (which would become a charity);
the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy.

Those bodies that are to be retained as quangos (non-departmental public bodies) include:

the School Teachers Pay Review Body;
Ofsted (but to face substantial reform);
Ofqual (also to be reformed).

Decisions have yet to be taken on the future of:

the Office of the Children's Commissioner (which is currently being reviewed by John Dunford for the government);
the National College for Leadership;
Partnership for Schools (which oversaw Building Schools for the Future);
Children's Workforce Development Council;
Training and Development Agency for Schools;
Young People's Learning Agency;
Children and Family Court Advisory Service.

None of these decisions have been confirmed or denied by the government.