To ask Her Majesty's Government in relation to an Ofsted report saying an independent school “provides parents and prospective parents with all the required information in the school prospectus and its website”, what that required information is; and how much of it should appear on its website. [HL1754]

The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008, which came into force on 9 February 2009, require independent schools to provide information to parents and parents of prospective pupils. There are four elements to this requirement:

First, an independent school is required to place on a website or make available to view in school particulars of the policy on admissions, discipline and exclusions, particulars of the educational and welfare provision for pupils with statements and pupils for whom English is an additional language, particulars of the school's curriculum policy, particulars of the school's policy to prevent bullying, the school's policy on the health and safety of pupils on activities outside the school, the school's policy on promoting good behaviour and sanctions for misbehaviour, particulars of the school's academic performance during the preceding school year including the results of any public examinations, details of the complaints procedure and the number of complaints registered under the formal procedure during the preceding school year and the number of staff at the school, including temporary staff, and a summary of their qualifications.

Secondly, the child protection policy must also be available on a website but where there is no school website it must be provided direct to parents and parents of prospective pupils on request.

Thirdly, schools must provide parents and parents of prospective pupils by e-mail or letter with the school's address and telephone number and the name of the head teacher; where the proprietor is an individual, the proprietor's full name, address for correspondence during both term-time and holidays and a telephone number or numbers on which the proprietor may be contacted at all times; where the proprietor is a corporation, a Scottish firm or a body of persons, the address and telephone number of its registered or principal office; where there is a governing body, the name and address for correspondence of the chairperson and a statement of the school's ethos (including any religious ethos) and aims.

Fourthly, a copy of inspection reports must be sent to parents.