York Councillors join chorus of concern over Blair's education plans

12.02.55pm GMT Wed 16th Nov 2005

City of York Councillors voted to join the chorus of opposition to Blair's controversial education proposals last night. At a full meeting of City of York Council Liberal Democrats, with support from other parties, agreed to tell the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to express their fears for education in local schools.

Council agreed that Blair's plans would bring serious risks for the education of pupils in York and other cities. The major fear is that one school could expand rapidly, harming nearby schools and the education of the students.

Council heard that businesses, faith groups and parents could take over running schools, and that the curriculum and admissions policy could vary from school to school, making it more complicated for parents to choose between them. This raises a risk that schools could select on the basis of interviews with parents if they are oversubscribed.

Councillors also raised worries that if the local education authority could not set a fair admissions policy across the city, a free-for-all could follow, with some pupils losing out. Council agreed that it was necessary to operate a fair system, to make sure that all pupils could get into a school that they choose.

Speaking in support of the motion, Cllr Carol Runciman said "School admissions need to be co-ordinated across a local authority and be fair and open - a free-for-all as schools set their own admissions arrangements is not likely to achieve this.

Schools need to be accountable locally and part of their local communities and if the Trust Schools that are being promoted are run like the Academies are now - then they won't be.

We don't want gaps between the haves and the have-nots. I believe in reducing those gaps - not potentially enlarging them by letting popular schools get sponsors and take as many children as they want.

I think we know what we want here in York. We want the best for every child regardless of circumstances. We want a successful authority to be able to continue its work, not only in the area of education but in Children's Services too.

We don't want our successful partnerships to be undermined and the whole admissions system across the city to be destabilized. Local Children should have a right to go to a good local school and not have to trek across the city to find what they want. Parents should have a right to be involved in their child's schooling and feel part of the local school community."

Liberal Democrats are now hoping that the Labour Government will listen to the growing number of critical voices during this consultation phase, and rethink the proposals.