DCSF, Your child, your schools, our future: building a 21^st century schools system (published in June 2009) sets out future government plans for education, including the extension of education and training to 18. Here we highlight areas of particular relevance to the tackling of bullying, promotion of wellbeing, and wider safeguarding of children and young people:

Pupil Guarantee and Parent Guarantee
The Pupil Guarantee includes good behaviour, strong discipline, order and safety with a strengthening of the Home School Agreement so that pupils know what behaviour is expected of them.  Pupils’ involvement in the school behaviour policy will also be increased.  The Pupil Guarantee also states that every pupil will go to a school that promotes their health and wellbeing, and from September 2011, PSHE will be statutory for all pupils.

The Parent Guarantee includes The Home School Agreement – this outlines parents’ rights and responsibilities for their child’s schooling, including behaviour.  Parents access to parenting services will be extended including information and support on parenting skills and advice on parenting issues.

Partnership working
Every school will be required to work in partnership with other schools and educational institutions in the area to share best practice.  The DCSF will support the introduction of multi-agency teams based in schools, and schools will become ‘relevant partners’ in Children’s Trust Boards.  The local authority will be responsible for promoting workable partnerships between schools.  They will be responsible for developing and maintaining local area clusters by providing information and data on multi-agency working.

Accountability system
This will be strengthened through the new School Report Card, Ofsted inspections and reform of the role of the School Improvement Partner (SIP). 

The School Report Card will be introduced from 2011 and will cover a wide range of aspects of school performance, from academic achievements to pupils’ views. 

The role of SIPS will be strengthened so that as well as having responsibility for managing performance and supporting school improvement, they will have a key role in brokering external support.

The duties of governing bodies will be to ensure the well-being and educational advancement of their pupils; to encourage the wider development and well-being of children throughout their area; and to support the needs of the wider community.