Lord Lexden proposed a number of amendments to the government's Education Bill during its committee stage in the House of Lords in July. His principal objective was to secure from the government strong support for the continuation and extension of partnership schemes between independent and state schools---for example, in science and modern languages-to their mutual benefit.
Speaking on July 6 Lord Lexden pointed out that ' small amounts of public money have brought teachers and pupils together in enthusiastic partnership projects throughout the country'. Replying for the government, Lord Hill of Oareford, the education minister in the Lords, agreed that partnership is 'an important issue' and promised that the government would ' explore how we can get more partnership'.
Returning to the matter on July 18 just before the start of the summer recess, Lord Lexden stressed that ' in subjects like science and maths independent schools can really help to raise standards and prospects for high-ability pupils overall because of the successful results they achieve'.