Alan Whitehead welcomes Government's proposals for the forthcoming Education Bill but says further clarification needed
February 7th 2006
Alan Whitehead, MP for Southampton Test, today welcomes the letter from the Secretary of State for Education, Ruth Kelly, which offers considerable movement in the right direction ahead of the publication of the forthcoming Education Bill.
Dr Whitehead, along with a small group of other MPs, co-authored the document 'Shaping the Education Bill - Reaching for Consensus' . This influential document sparked off a serious and informed debate on the direction of the government's proposed education reforms as laid out in the White Paper. Particular concern has focused on the admissions process, the role of the Local Education Authority and the issue of Trust Schools.
Since then, many others have added their voice to this debate, including the Audit Commission , the Compass publication 'A Comprehensive Future' and most recently the Education Select Committee Report . All these have added weight to the areas of concern raised in 'Shaping the Education Bill'. Dr Whitehead, and his co-authors, have been urging the Government to listen to the concerns that have been voiced, to ensure that an informed debate has ensued in order that the overarching aim of these education reforms is achieved - that is, in every community, in every area across the country there is a good local school to which you can send your child.
Alan Whitehead said;
"I welcome the letter from Ruth Kelly and the combination of assurances, movement, clarification and new directions, which when put together, amounts to considerable concessions, even if the government and ourselves use different language to get to the same place."
"What we have seen is significant movement on our key areas of concern. The admissions code will be set out in regulation, there has been clarification on the powers of trust schools, and we will still see community schools being able to be established.'
"However, there is still need for some further clarification, particularly with regards to the role of the Secretary of State and the Adjudicator as the decision makers on what circumstances would allow for a community school to be set up. These are nonetheless very positive steps in the right direction, and if the Education Bill sets out to do what it intends to do, that is, produce legislation which is good for schools, parents and children, then it will be a Bill that all Labour members will be able to support."