Member

I now turn to Amendments 430 and 436 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Morgan of Cotes, concerning the Independent Schools Inspectorate; the noble Baronesses, Lady Berridge and Lady Spielman, spoke in support of these amendments, while the noble Lord, Lord Black of Brentwood, spoke against them. The ISI is a body approved to inspect specified independent schools—so-called association schools. The collective aim of these amendments is to withdraw approval from ISI and, instead, have all independent schools inspected by Ofsted. Although I recognise the sincerity of the concerns that have been raised, these changes would bring substantial costs for few obvious benefits and would see only the removal from the sector of an experienced schools inspectorate at a time when Ofsted is already managing a complex reform.