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Lords division · 3 Feb 2026 · No. 1

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Baroness Barran moved amendment 199, in clause 57, page 122, line 21, at end to insert—“(5A) The adjudicator may not issue a direction under this section requiring the governing body of a maintained school or the proprietor of an Academy to reduce the school’s published admission number unless satisfied that—(a) the direction is necessary and proportionate to secure the efficient and effective use of education provision within the local authority area, and(b) the school—(i) is not operating at or above its current published admission number, and(ii) has not, within the period of three years preceding the direction, been assessed by His Majesty’s Chief Inspector as providing education that is of a high quality.(5B) For the purposes of subsection (5A)(b)(ii), a school shall be regarded as providing education of a high quality where—(a) the most recent inspection carried out under section 5 or section 8 of the Education Act 2005 (duty to inspect schools) concludes that the quality of education at the school is effective or better, or(b) any equivalent finding is made under an inspection framework that succeeds that in force at the passing of this Act.(5C) Before issuing a direction under this section requiring a reduction in a school’s published admission number, the adjudicator must consider whether the objective could more appropriately be achieved by means of changes to the pattern of provision in the area, including (where appropriate) the amalgamation or closure of schools, in accordance with any applicable statutory and departmental guidance on school organisation.(5D) In exercising functions under this section, the adjudicator must have regard to—(a) the desirability of giving effect to parental preferences for schools, and(b) the need to avoid measures that would unduly restrict access to schools that are providing high-quality education or that are in strong demand from parents.”The House divided:

The Contents have it

Majority 115

Contents: 295 Not Contents: 180

At a glance The Contents won by a margin of 115 votes. The Government's position was Not Content, and it lost.

How the parties voted

Contents

Conservative 187
Liberal Democrat 57
Crossbench 32
Non-affiliated 10
Democratic Unionist Party 4
Ulster Unionist Party 3
Bishops 2

Not Contents

Labour 163
Crossbench 10
Non-affiliated 5
Green Party 2

The party breakdowns are our own analysis of the official voting records (recorded votes only; they do not describe the formal whip). How we work this out.

Peers attend divisions ad hoc, so there is no did-not-vote list. Tellers are counted in the Content and Not Content totals, unlike in the Commons.

Tellers: The Earl of Courtown (Content), Baroness Williams of Trafford (Content), Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Not Content), Baroness Wheeler (Not Content).

Every vote

Contents (293)

Not Contents (178)

Tellers (4)

Source: the official Lords division record.