Are you swamped by new government regulations? Do you find it hard to keep up with the latest edicts? If so, their lordships would like to hear from you.
The snappily titled "House of Lords Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee" wants to hear the education sector's views on the cumulative impact all the government's regulations have on schools.
According to the committee, the schools secretary, Ed Balls' Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) produced more statutory instruments (SIs) than any other government department in the last parliamentary session, and the majority of these affect schools.
In July, the department issued nearly 30 regulations, including 12 orders confirming revised programmes of study for all national curriculum subjects at key stage 3 (age 11-14).
With the "peak time" for bringing them into force being around August or early September, it gives schools little notice before the start of the new school year.
The committee wants to follow up its concerns that too many "SIs" made too quickly without clear strategy or guidance may not achieve the policy objective behind them, with a focused study into the impact on schools of this "legislative congestion".
The committee's chairman, David Filkin, says: "No-one doubts the importance of the schools sector, or the need for proper regulation - but could the process be managed better?
"We want to hear from headteachers, governors and others whether the way and the timing of the statutory instruments issued by DCSF could be improved, so as to make the achievement of their policy objectives more efficient and effective."
The deadline for written evidence is October 31. Let 'em have it!
