Comprehensive schools in England and Wales are set for a further shake-up as Labour switches its focus from primary schools to secondary schools in the new session of parliament.

Under the Education Bill set out in the Queen's Speech there will be an emphasis on diversity and higher standards - especially in secondary education.

Every secondary school will have to develop a distinctive mission, and there is to be an increase in the number of specialist schools. There will also be diversification through increased numbers of City academies and church schools.

The reforms will lead to more community involvement and new opportunities for school sponsorship - measures expected to increase the role of private and not-for-profit organisations in schools. The creation of standard contracts will help to ease this process, though the move will be opposed by teaching unions.

Local education authorities may also find themselves increasingly by-passed as the government gives funding directly to individual schools in a bid to increase the freedom of head teachers.

There have been promises of extra resources for teachers, buildings and equipment but from recent experience it is likely that some of the additional finances may be distributed via a bidding process and will go hand in hand with reforms.

It is proposed that there will be measures to allow education to be more tailored to the individual talents of pupils and to make vocational options rather than purely academic subjects available.

Estelle Morris, the new education secretary, will be hoping that the reforms raise standards at the secondary level following improvements in primary school results. She has indicated that she is prepared to make financial concessions to those who undertake professional development and training in their own time.

House of Commons

First reading: November 22 2001 (HC Bill 55)

Second reading: December 4 2001

Standing Committee G

• 1st sitting: December 11 2001 (am)
• 2nd sitting: December 11 2001 (pm) (pt 1)(pt 2)
• 3rd sitting: December 13 2001 (am)
• 4th sitting: December 13 2001 (pm)
• 5th sitting: December 18 2001 (am)
• 6th sitting: December 18 2001 (pm) (part 1) (part 2)
• 7th sitting: January 8 2002 (am)
• 8th sitting: January 10 2002 (am)
• 9th sitting: January 10 2002 (am)
• 10th sitting: January 10 2002 (pm)
• 11th sitting: January 15 2002 (am)
• 12th sitting: January 15 2002 (pm)
• 13th sitting: January 17 2002 (am)
• 14th sitting: January 17 2002 (pm)
• 15th sitting: January 22 2002 (am)
• 16th sitting: January 22 2002 (pm)
• 17th sitting: January 24 2002 (am)
• 18th sitting: January 24 2002 (pm)

House of Lords

First reading: February 7 2002 (HL Bill 51)

Second reading: March 11 2002

Committee:

• 1st day: May 2 2002
• 2nd day: May 7 2002
• 3rd day: May 9 2002
• 4th day: May 14 2002
• 5th day: May 23 2002
• 6th day: May 28 2002
• The bill as amended in Committee: HL Bill 87

Report

• 1st day: June 17 2002
• 2nd day: June 19 2002
• 3rd day: June 26 2002
• The bill as amended on report: HL Bill 99

Third reading: July 3 2002

House of Commons

Consideration of Lords amendments: July 15 2002

House of Lords

Consideration of Commons reasons: July 23 2002

House of Commons

Consideration of Lords amendments: July 24 2002

Consideration of Commons amendments: July 24 2002

Royal Assent: July 24 2002