Government poised to drop Schools Bill which aimed to regulate yeshivot

The government is poised to drop its landmark Schools Bill, which had included greater powers to tackle unregistered yeshivot.

Reports on Wednesday claimed that Liz Truss had agreed to drop the legislation to concentrate matters seen as more pressing around the economy.

Jewish News understands that some leading campaigners against the Bill from within the community had also been expecting an announcement about it being dropped last month.

On Wednesday a Downing Street spokesperson refused to comment on the report in The Times suggesting the Bill was now dropped, adding the Education Secretary would be speaking further in due course.

The PM was known to be less enthusiastic about the legislation than her predecessor Boris Johnson.

In the Lords schools minister Baroness Barran had recommended a number of clauses in the Bill be amended.

And former education secretary Lord Baker, warned that theacademy standards and regulation it recommended would lead to a central government takeover of academy trusts.

The proposed Bill divided opinion within the community as it was unveiled.

Eve Sacks of Nahamu, a think-tank lobbying on harms within the Charedi community, was amongst those to welcomes the prospect of new legislation which would ensure home-schooled children were properly registered and all schools are fully licensed.

But leaders of the Strictly Orthodox community took part in a succession of protests outside Westminister over claims the government was attempting to suppress religious freedom.

The Bill also included recommendations to ensure more of a secular curriculum was taught, including lessons about relationships and sex.

They repeatedly wore Yellow Stars, claiming there was a comparison to be drawn between the behaviour of the German Nazis and those behind the Bill.

But the stunt infuriated many in the community, including Holocaust survivors and charities.

But Jewish News understands that while the Bill will be scrapped, ministers are planning to bring back some elements of it in simpler legislation at the next session of parliament, which starts in May.

This would include the establishment of a register of children not in education and greater powers to tackle illegal schools.

These policies could be brought back as part of smaller bills, so they are less likely to be held up in the way the schools bill has, sources say.