Government's school plans will create chaos and unfairness

4.27.45pm GMT Mon 24th Oct 2005

School shake-up is "pandering to middle classes"

The Liberal Democrats have slammed the Government's latest plans to introduce independent state secondary schools. Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary said "Whether the Government calls them trust or grant maintained schools, allowing every school the power to select pupils will create chaos and greater unfairness."

Mr. Davey further said "Labour is paying lip service to the idea of local authorities as champions of children while removing their ability to manage the fair allocation of school places. Schools need more freedom from Whitehall not just from the town hall. Smaller classes, better trained teachers, and a more relevant curriculum should be the priorities for improving standards in secondary education. The suggestion that a new system of trust schools will ensure that parents get their first choice of schools is a myth. Falling birth rates mean 500,000 surplus school places will become available over the next ten years allowing more pupils to get into their first choice schools."