What is their response to the recent Ofsted report on Summerhill School???
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: My Lords, Ofsted has reported that Summerhill School fails to meet statutory minimum standards of accommodation, welfare and instruction, and is not providing adequate education. We have served a notice of complaint, requiring the school to make specified improvements within a year. We have also asked the school to submit an action plan within three months. Earl Baldwin of Bewdley: My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. However, does the noble Lord think it appropriate to consider closing, after 78 years, a unique educational institution in the private sector, which has such massive support from pupils and parents? Does he accept that, despite Ofsted’s disclaimer that it is not sitting in judgment on Summerhill’s philosophy of pupil democracy, that is exactly what it is doing? Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: My Lords, the key issue is children’s entitlement to minimum standards of education and welfare. The Ofsted team was an experienced HMI team. T
