CHOICE FOR SOMERSET PARENTS (4/11/02)

Conservatives at Somerset County Council endorse Damien Green’s proposals of choice for parents when choosing a school.

The current buzzword in Conservative policy is freedom.Their education policy wants freedom returned to schools, and autonomy given to head teachers.Hand in hand with this, is choice.

Christopher Wolverson, Conservative spokesman for Education on Somerset County Council, said, “There have been too many experiments in Education.Children have one chance to get a good start in life and it is important we don’t waste it.That is why Conservatives have been looking at what works in practice, both in Britain and abroad.The results will mean a more diverse education for the children of Somerset.

“Last year 33,000 children left school without a single GCSE.Something clearly is not working.There are three key lessons to be learnt.Firstly, it is not simply a question of money.Secondly, the better the school, the more independent its character.And finally, the best schools are those held to account by active parents.”

Conservatives are proposing to introduce state scholarships.Popular schools would be able to take on more pupils and new schools could be created.Groups of parents, churches, teachers or voluntary groups could establish new schools in their communities.

Chrisopher Wolverson added, “If they can attract pupils, they will attract funding.The choice that is currently only available to the well-off, will be available for all.

“Although it is the Government’s duty to pay for children’s education, the Government does not have a monopoly of wisdom about how to teach.”

Damien Green, Shadow Secretary of State for Education, commented, “It is only when parents are given genuine choices about the schools their children attend that we will challenge schools to improve and attract pupils.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

1. Damien Green’s comments published in Parliamentary Monitor September 2002

2. Percentage 15 year olds gaining 5+ A*-C GCSE/GNVQ

Source: LEA and School Information Service – Standard Report 06