Education and the Election (Liberal Democrat Education Association)

Liberal Democrat Education Association <info@libdemeducationassociation.org.uk>

Education and the Election

March 12, 2010 5:47 AM

David Bellotti

As we approach the General Election it is very clear this will be a defining moment for education.

The Labour government will be remembered for putting many more resources into our schools, colleges and universities than previous Conservative governments. However, they will also be remembered for creating much more bureaucracy and appointing hundreds of wasteful and unnecessary quangos to manage their far too many initiatives. For the future Labour would continue with their Building Schools for the Future programme and every School will become a Specialist School, a Trust School or an Academy.

The Conservative proposals would create as many new academies as possible. They will allow any application from a fit and proper person who can demonstrate good intent to set up an academy.

Representations from a local council that a new academy would lead to surplus places in an area would not be a reason to turn the new academy down. Local Government would have to provide information, advice and support to those wanting to set up new academies. The Conservatives would also remove planning permission obstacles to new academies and remove section 106 obligations.

With the other parties moving rapidly towards a top (government) down model (and in the Conservative case bypassing local government completely) it is good to recognise that the Liberal Democrats offer a model where Local Government would be in a strategic role to ensure best provision of education in their area. Our proposal for Sponsor Managed Schools would result in pupils being able to access their full curriculum entitlement and ensure that there were sufficient places available. We would make Local Government responsible for the strategic oversight of admissions, whereas the Conservatives would allow the expulsion of pupils without any independent appeal. We would intervene locally when schools were performing badly. We would co-ordinate children's social and welfare services by supporting schools and colleges. We would control the principle programme of capital investment. The creation of an Education Freedom Act would ensure that politicians did not interfere on their day to day operation of schools and an Independent Education Standards Authority would make sure that poor councils were held to account.

The key message for the election is that voters can choose between the Conservatives creating a completely free market with all the consequences of the weak being left to fend for themselves, Labour again with its welcome resources but ever increasing bureaucracy and interference, or the Liberal Democrats working locally to deliver the best opportunities for the pupils and students.

There is no promise of any new money from the Conservatives, Labour appear to be offering between £400M and £800M new money and we of course have our Pupil Premium proposals to address the issue of creating a more level playing field of opportunity at a cost of £2.5Billion.

As we approach the General Election we must use every opportunity to tell voters that the Conservative"s proposal for "Free Schools" would lead to the demise of state education. We must be equally clear that we will not allow any commercial or other organisation to set up schools with their own, sometimes hidden, agenda. Our agenda remains to ensure that every child and young person has the maximum opportunity to develop their own individual talent and abilities.

David Bellotti is Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Children and Young People at the Local Government Association