Hopes that the long-awaited Education Bill could appear in the House of Keys by April were branded unrealistic this week.

Education Minister Graham Cregeen said it was hoped the ’vital’ bill would be ready to go before the branches in that month, following a seven-week consultation period that started this week.

Mr Cregeen was questioned about the timescale for the wide-ranging Bill in the House of Keys on Tuesday.

Julie Edge (Onchan) suggested the Bill was already delayed, while Bill Shimmins (Middle) argued that, unless education chiefs were planning not to take any notice of any serious concerns raised over the draft Bill, the April target was ’unrealistic’.

Mr Shimmins added: ’Does that mean [Mr Cregeen] has made his mind up already? What is the point of the consultation?’

The minister insisted that the findings of the consultation would be considered and a decision taken as to whether any changes needed to be made to the draft Bill.

He said he was between ’a rock and a hard place’ from those wanting a firm date and those wanting flexibility to take account of the consultation outcome.

’That is why I said it is hoped to be in the Keys by April,’ he said. ’We have to see what the responses say.

’If not (April), then it will be after that.’

On the same day as the matter was discussed in the Keys, the Department of Education, Sport and Culture’s consultation went live.

Launching it, Mr Cregeen urged the public to get involved.

’It’s crucial that we have an up-to-date, forward-thinking education system on the Isle of Man which will enable us to continue to provide a fantastic and effective education for the island,’ he said.

’The Education Act 2001 has been the primary legislation governing what happens in education on the island since it came into effect in 2004.

’However, the need for a new, updated Bill has become apparent over recent years and the Department of Education, Sport and Culture has been reviewing ways in which the department can help deliver this.’

The department says the changes will reflect education practice in the UK and other jurisdictions.

Among the matters being proposed are changes to pupil behaviour standards. These include behaviour outside of schools, recovering costs from damage caused, the power to confiscate psychoactive substances deemed inappropriate for school, and measures to combat inappropriate use of social media.

Other areas included in the bill are home education arrangements, school inspections, attendance, additional educational needs, and a possible register of private tutors.

Religious education would be included among the compulsory subjects, as would Manx culture - including language and history.

The Bill includes a provision that would seek contributions from the relevant church for significant developments at faith schools.

The consultation can be found at https://consult.gov.im/