Title

A political row has broken out over Conservative Party proposals to take control of new schools away from local authorities. The Tories plan to transfer council authority over planning powers regarding schools to Whitehall, should they win the general election. The changes in planning law would give the schools secretary the power of veto over council decisions on building new schools. The proposal is aimed at stymieing opposition councils from blocking academy-style community schools, which could pose an obstacle to one of [Tory leader] David Cameron's flagship policies. The move would see new schools being treated like major infrastructure projects. Schools minister, Vernon Coaker, has warned that, with no planning restrictions, schools will be able to open in pre-fabricated buildings and rented office blocks – therefore depriving children of important facilities, such as places to play and take part in sport. Liberal Democrat schools spokesman, David Laws, claimed the proposal showed the Tory commitment to localism was only skin deep. Shadow schools secretary, Michael Gove, has long advocated a Swedish system of schooling, which gives parents more choice to boost standards through introducing an element of competition to the sector. Shadow local government minister, Bob Neill, said: ‘Our policy to give parents and communities the right to establish new schools will create exciting new opportunities to drive up educational standards.' But Per Thulberg, director general of the Swedish National Agency for Education, said in a television interview that introducing competition between schools had not led to better results. ‘The lesson is that it's not easy to find a way to continue school improvement. The students in the new schools have, in general, better standards, but it has to do with their parents, and their backgrounds. They come from well-educated families.' Schools secretary, Ed Balls, waded into the row, challenging Mr Gove to explain where the £1.8bn running costs for the 2,000 schools he pursued would come from.

Title

Row over Tories' plan of schools

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING