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Brown pledges school leader vote Brown pledges parents school vote
(about 1 hour later)
Labour is to promise parents a vote on whether struggling schools should be run by a different organisation.Labour is to promise parents a vote on whether struggling schools should be run by a different organisation.
The plan is to be announced by Gordon Brown in a speech on raising standards in which he will promise "parents a strong voice and real power".The plan is to be announced by Gordon Brown in a speech on raising standards in which he will promise "parents a strong voice and real power".
Parents would be able to vote for a change of school leadership - with a list of approved organisations which could take over the school.Parents would be able to vote for a change of school leadership - with a list of approved organisations which could take over the school.
The Conservatives want it to be easier for parents to set up schools.The Conservatives want it to be easier for parents to set up schools.
Labour's plans for parental ballots are intended to accelerate the reduction in number of underachieving schools, both at primary and secondary level. Labour's parent power plans are intended to accelerate the reduction in number of underachieving schools, both at primary and secondary level.
'Turn things around''Turn things around'
Mr Brown will announce that where a "significant group" of parents are dissatisfied, the local authority will have to ballot all parents in a school on whether another provider should be brought in to "turn things around".Mr Brown will announce that where a "significant group" of parents are dissatisfied, the local authority will have to ballot all parents in a school on whether another provider should be brought in to "turn things around".
The prime minister says it will give "parents a strong voice and real power, but does not leave education to the mercy of the market".The prime minister says it will give "parents a strong voice and real power, but does not leave education to the mercy of the market".
He will say: "As a parent I want the best for my children. And I know all of us do. We want them to have better chances than we had. And that starts with education.He will say: "As a parent I want the best for my children. And I know all of us do. We want them to have better chances than we had. And that starts with education.
"So it's understandable that parents will go to great lengths to give their children the best possible start in life. Because what they want for their children is exactly what I want for my children.""So it's understandable that parents will go to great lengths to give their children the best possible start in life. Because what they want for their children is exactly what I want for my children."
He will say that he stands for "excellence in education" and his desire for the UK to have "world class" schools with "great teaching, personalised education, and an insatiable desire to continually drive up standards".He will say that he stands for "excellence in education" and his desire for the UK to have "world class" schools with "great teaching, personalised education, and an insatiable desire to continually drive up standards".
Primaries will be able to join school chainsPrimaries will be able to join school chains
He will also talk of his own background and the "anger and frustration" of friends who were "denied a chance" in education - including university.He will also talk of his own background and the "anger and frustration" of friends who were "denied a chance" in education - including university.
"There were no education guarantees for them. There are now," he is expected to say."There were no education guarantees for them. There are now," he is expected to say.
This comes against a background in which universities face unprecedented pressure on places.This comes against a background in which universities face unprecedented pressure on places.
Parents of children in the last year of primary school will also be promised that their views will be surveyed - and where parents are not satisfied there will have to be an "action plan", with the option of a take-over by another education provider.Parents of children in the last year of primary school will also be promised that their views will be surveyed - and where parents are not satisfied there will have to be an "action plan", with the option of a take-over by another education provider.
The government will announce a list of the first 15 "kitemarked" organisations which will be allowed to take over other struggling schools.The government will announce a list of the first 15 "kitemarked" organisations which will be allowed to take over other struggling schools.
These accredited organisations will include universities, colleges, successful schools and academy sponsors.These accredited organisations will include universities, colleges, successful schools and academy sponsors.
Mr Brown and Schools Secretary Ed Balls will set out plans for chains of schools, to be headed by one of these approved leaders.Mr Brown and Schools Secretary Ed Balls will set out plans for chains of schools, to be headed by one of these approved leaders.
The ambition is for all schools to able to join such a chain within the next five years.The ambition is for all schools to able to join such a chain within the next five years.
Political dividePolitical divide
They will also announce for the first time that primary schools, as well as secondary, will be able to join these chains of connected schools - with a focus on tacking underachievement in primary schools.They will also announce for the first time that primary schools, as well as secondary, will be able to join these chains of connected schools - with a focus on tacking underachievement in primary schools.
And there will be a tough message to local authorities that they will be "instructed" to take action on underperforming schools, including the introduction of one of these accredited groups.And there will be a tough message to local authorities that they will be "instructed" to take action on underperforming schools, including the introduction of one of these accredited groups.
Writing on the Labour List blog, ahead of Mr Brown's speech, Mr Balls emphasised the importance of parental choice.Writing on the Labour List blog, ahead of Mr Brown's speech, Mr Balls emphasised the importance of parental choice.
"If your local schools are not doing well enough, and if you are dissatisfied with the progress your local school is making, you will be able to demand change and get a new and quality-guaranteed provider.""If your local schools are not doing well enough, and if you are dissatisfied with the progress your local school is making, you will be able to demand change and get a new and quality-guaranteed provider."
And with the Conservatives making a centrepiece of their plans to enable parents to create their own schools - Mr Balls set out the political dividing lines.And with the Conservatives making a centrepiece of their plans to enable parents to create their own schools - Mr Balls set out the political dividing lines.
"Compare this to the Conservative offer... they are saying to busy working parents that if they are dissatisfied with local state schools, your only option is for you to set up and run your own brand new school in the hope that it succeeds and that pupils eventually transfer from the weaker school.""Compare this to the Conservative offer... they are saying to busy working parents that if they are dissatisfied with local state schools, your only option is for you to set up and run your own brand new school in the hope that it succeeds and that pupils eventually transfer from the weaker school."
The Liberal Democrats have also rejected the idea of creating new schools - with their schools spokesman, David Laws, saying that would "inevitably depend on raiding the budgets of existing schools".The Liberal Democrats have also rejected the idea of creating new schools - with their schools spokesman, David Laws, saying that would "inevitably depend on raiding the budgets of existing schools".
Next week, parents with children in the last year of primary will learn which secondary schools their children will be attending next autumn - raising further questions about the rights of parents over their choice of school.Next week, parents with children in the last year of primary will learn which secondary schools their children will be attending next autumn - raising further questions about the rights of parents over their choice of school.