Education spokesperson backs alternative to education white paper reforms (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Education spokesperson backs alternative to education white paper reforms

March 17, 2006 9:51 AM

Lib Dems want a fairer system of education

Kirklees Lib Dem Education spokesperson, Cllr Geoff Alvy, gave his backing to education reforms launched by the Liberal democrats as an alternative to those set out by the Government in their Education White Paper: Higher Standards, Better Schools For All saying that they offer a "more progressive and fairer agenda for reform for the people of Kirklees".

Cllr Alvy said, "The proposals address issues of equality, choice and freedom for parents, schools, associated bodies and, most importantly, for the young people living in Kirklees who it is our responsibility to care for and educate.

Cllr Alvy went on to say: "The Government are proposing that schools should be allowed to set their own admissions criteria. This is against everything that we have worked towards in Kirklees as this would put a significant number of local children and their families at a disadvantage. As an alternative, we would like to see two things; firstly, the introduction a Pupil Premium for disadvantaged and underperforming children which would act as a financial incentive encouraging schools to admit certain children on to their rolls. Secondly, we would change the way in which existing deprivation funding is distributed, taking it away from programmes like City Academies and Specialist Schools, and re-directing it to schools on the basis of the needs of the children who are taught there. These measures would help to make sure that all children are given the same opportunities by providing a continuing incentive for schools to admit pupils from all backgrounds. They would also ensure that the schools who took these children on would be provided with the additional moneys needed to provide for their specific needs.

Cllr Alvy then went on to point out: "In 2005, nationally, only 44% of 15 year olds got at least 5 GCSEs while, currently, 31% of 17 year olds are not in full time education or training. There is clearly an issue here. Education is not a one-size fits all system, there has to be a greater choice for young people and they have to allowed to play a greater part in determining how and what they learn if they are to re-engage with their education and be given the motivation necessary to carry them through. The proposals put forward would see children from 14-19 being allowed to broaden their range of learning opportunities by electing to receive their education at one or more local schools, colleges or work based learning providers. This would be coupled with every child from 14-19 being awarded a Learning Entitlement which would pay for the learning and training opportunities they choose to take up up until 19 years of age. To help them form a practical timetable for their development and to ensure that they make the best decisions, each student would be provided with an independent learning provider. Providing greater choice would help to re-engage students with their education resulting in a better attendance level pre16 with the resultant knock on affect in later years of increasing numbers staying on post16. Eventually, there should also be an increase in the number of students achieving 5GCSE of the equivalent if they young are more engaged by their process of education.

Cllr Alvy went on to say "The proposals also address the need for greater freedom in schools. A deregulated national curriculum and less interference from Whitehall would help to teachers to tailor their lessons and schemes of work to the needs of individual classed.

Cllr Alvy went on to say: "The remainder of the proposals address how schools, colleges, employers and other learning providers could be re-organised to in order to share best practice, resources, delivery of the curriculum, co-ordinate timetables through such the intropduciton of new models including Community Learning Trusts, Confederations and Learning Networks. These are all just good ideas at the moment, what it needed is greater funding power to devolved deveolved to authorities asuthroities so that they can bring about change s in the areas where they are more aware of what the people need."

Kirklees Liberal Democrats