Lib Dems Express Concern at Government's Education White Paper

12.00.00am GMT Tue 10th Jan 2006

Jean Fooks, Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Children, at Council said that the Education White Paper "Higher Standards, Better Schools for All" is more about structures, than actual standards. Jean said that all children needed education appropriate to their needs in a good local school, and that she did not see that the Government plans would actually provide this.

"There is not enough about teaching and learning, and nothing about reducing the bureaucratic burdens on teachers," said Jean. "Positively encouraging schools to attract pupils from outside their catchment areas works against developing good community schools everywhere. This is even in contradiction to the Government's own stated aims of joined-up, local working.

"Choice of schools may work in cities; but in rural counties like Oxfordshire, there is in reality little choice. We therefore need to ensure all our schools are good ones.

"Whitehall should be giving power back to local communities and local schools. Local people are best placed to make decisions about their local schools, with locally elected members being directly responsible to their communities for the decisions they make.

"Liberal Democrats fear that the powers proposed for the new national Schools Commissioner, described as the Secretary of State's chief adviser on school standards, would mean that schools would be operating with the Secretary of State looking over their shoulder all the time.

"If schools were to control their own admissions, as is proposed, we fear that co-operation over places for disadvantaged pupils will end. Schools may be tempted to put league tables ahead of caring for all the children in their local community."