Controversial legislation will not help borough's schools

Written by Vincent Cable MP and published in Informer on Mon 27th Feb 2006

In the next few weeks, the government will launch new legislation for schools. Mr Blair's aim is, first, to give schools more independence from political interference (from Councils) and, second, to give parents more "choice".

Superficially these seem attractive ideas, but I am baffled as to how these new laws will help local residents. We already have excellent primary schools. While there are some problems at secondary level - a large number of pupils from outside the borough; and the exodus of residents' children into independent schools - they will not change.

The Council - under whichever party - plays an important role in education. It sets rules for admission to popular, oversubscribed, schools. While some parents are frustrated that they cannot realise their first choice school it would be worse if schools were free to pick and choose their intake or had refused to cooperate over, for example, bulge classes. Individual schools, left to themselves, will not want to take responsibility for children with special needs. I encounter many parents, at their wits end, with disabled or autistic or hyperactive children who are angry at slow and unsympathetic procedures. But I do not see how these reforms will help them.

One of the strengths of the borough is that, whatever the disagreements between parties, there is a broad consensus on the school system dating from when the Conservatives scrapped the 11+. The borough offers 90% of pupils and parents their first choice of school, including faith schools and a girls' secondary. There is a reasonable balance between freedom for schools and choice for parents.

Of course, there is room for improvement. But a government policy designed to solve problems in Lambeth or Hackney is irrelevant. Local communities should have greater, not less, freedom in running their schools; and not be required to follow a blueprint drawn up in Whitehall.