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| School councils a must, say MPs | School councils a must, say MPs |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Every school in England should set up a council so pupils can have a voice on the appointment of teachers and running the school, a Commons committee says. | Every school in England should set up a council so pupils can have a voice on the appointment of teachers and running the school, a Commons committee says. |
| The education select committee's report said school councils helped pupils take part in democratic debate. | The education select committee's report said school councils helped pupils take part in democratic debate. |
| Citizenship lessons were central to addressing issues of segregation in today's society, the MPs added. | Citizenship lessons were central to addressing issues of segregation in today's society, the MPs added. |
| But the report's conclusions were not supported by Conservative members of the committee. | But the report's conclusions were not supported by Conservative members of the committee. |
| Subject to a review by academics at the Institute of Education at London University, the government should make school councils compulsory, the committee said. | Subject to a review by academics at the Institute of Education at London University, the government should make school councils compulsory, the committee said. |
| Citizenship education has the potential to address some of the challenges at the heart of social exclusion Barry Sheerman, committee chairman Where pupils interview staff | Citizenship education has the potential to address some of the challenges at the heart of social exclusion Barry Sheerman, committee chairman Where pupils interview staff |
| "Well-run councils offer students opportunities both to participate in democratic, representative practices, such as elections, and to effect change in their school environments," the report said. | "Well-run councils offer students opportunities both to participate in democratic, representative practices, such as elections, and to effect change in their school environments," the report said. |
| Pupils should be trained in negotiation, communication skills and leadership to help the school councils work well, the committee added. | Pupils should be trained in negotiation, communication skills and leadership to help the school councils work well, the committee added. |
| Citizenship lessons have been a compulsory part of the national curriculum since September 2002. | Citizenship lessons have been a compulsory part of the national curriculum since September 2002. |
| But the MPs said the government was in danger of losing interest in citizenship education. | But the MPs said the government was in danger of losing interest in citizenship education. |
| Patchiness | Patchiness |
| "The quality and extent of citizenship education is still inconsistent across the country," the report said. | "The quality and extent of citizenship education is still inconsistent across the country," the report said. |
| "This patchiness needs to be tackled head-on and progress accelerated. | "This patchiness needs to be tackled head-on and progress accelerated. |
| "More needs to be done to communicate with leaders, teachers and lecturers - especially in settings which have not made much progress to date - about the approaches that are working in other institutions." | "More needs to be done to communicate with leaders, teachers and lecturers - especially in settings which have not made much progress to date - about the approaches that are working in other institutions." |
| Committee chairman Barry Sheerman said: "We heard some really inspiring accounts of citizenship education programmes in schools and colleges. | Committee chairman Barry Sheerman said: "We heard some really inspiring accounts of citizenship education programmes in schools and colleges. |
| "It is crucial that we now ensure these experiences become more widespread. Ministers need to demonstrate they are firmly behind this agenda. | "It is crucial that we now ensure these experiences become more widespread. Ministers need to demonstrate they are firmly behind this agenda. |
| Any report that seeks to promote common citizenship needs to specifically reject the multicultural 'mush' that has caused the problem Tory committee member Douglas Carswell "We all acknowledge that there are people in this country who feel excluded and alienated from society - citizenship education has the potential to address some of the challenges at the heart of this social exclusion." | Any report that seeks to promote common citizenship needs to specifically reject the multicultural 'mush' that has caused the problem Tory committee member Douglas Carswell "We all acknowledge that there are people in this country who feel excluded and alienated from society - citizenship education has the potential to address some of the challenges at the heart of this social exclusion." |
| The Schools Minister, Lord Adonis, said the government was "firmly committed" to supporting the delivery of high quality citizenship education. | The Schools Minister, Lord Adonis, said the government was "firmly committed" to supporting the delivery of high quality citizenship education. |
| "Citizenship education is key to building a modern, cohesive British society," he said. | "Citizenship education is key to building a modern, cohesive British society," he said. |
| "It is important to teach our young people about social and moral responsibility, diversity in modern Britain and how they can make a positive contribution to society." | "It is important to teach our young people about social and moral responsibility, diversity in modern Britain and how they can make a positive contribution to society." |
| Tory revolt | Tory revolt |
| However, Conservative members of the cross-party committee have not put their names to the report. | However, Conservative members of the cross-party committee have not put their names to the report. |
| One, Douglas Carswell, said: "Years of cultural relativism, promoted by the state, have undermined social cohesion. | One, Douglas Carswell, said: "Years of cultural relativism, promoted by the state, have undermined social cohesion. |
| "Any report that seeks to promote common citizenship needs to specifically reject the multicultural 'mush' that has caused the problem." | "Any report that seeks to promote common citizenship needs to specifically reject the multicultural 'mush' that has caused the problem." |
| Mr Carswell said he could not accept the idea of making school councils compulsory. | Mr Carswell said he could not accept the idea of making school councils compulsory. |
| The National Union of Teachers also rejected the idea. | The National Union of Teachers also rejected the idea. |
| General secretary Steve Sinnott said: "If the government made school councils a requirement, they would be seen as an imposition, setting back their development." | General secretary Steve Sinnott said: "If the government made school councils a requirement, they would be seen as an imposition, setting back their development." |
| His counterpart at the Association of School and College Leaders, John Dunford, said the Welsh Assembly Government had already made the mistake of making school councils compulsory and issuing detailed guidelines on how to run them. | |
| "Instead of being positive about developing these important bodies, schools have been annoyed by the way in which they are being told what to do," he said. | |
| "The process of establishing a school council is important and should be carried out in a way that is in tune with the ethos of the school. | |
| "This is much more difficult to do if schools are acting under compulsion." |