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Labour would halt free schools expansion, says Stephen Twigg Labour would halt free schools expansion, says Stephen Twigg
(4 months later)
A Labour government would end the building of free schools and reassert local oversight of academy schools, the shadow education secretary, Stephen Twigg, announced in a policy address on Monday.A Labour government would end the building of free schools and reassert local oversight of academy schools, the shadow education secretary, Stephen Twigg, announced in a policy address on Monday.
"Contrary to the government's rhetoric, free schools and academies are not a panacea for school improvement. We are seeing that they can and do underperform, just like other schools," Twigg said."Contrary to the government's rhetoric, free schools and academies are not a panacea for school improvement. We are seeing that they can and do underperform, just like other schools," Twigg said.
All state schools should give priority in admissions to disadvantaged children who qualify for pupil premium payments, as part of an overhaul of the admissions code for maintained schools, he said.All state schools should give priority in admissions to disadvantaged children who qualify for pupil premium payments, as part of an overhaul of the admissions code for maintained schools, he said.
The speech by the former schools minister marks Labour's first serious attempt to grapple with the introduction of free schools and the huge increase in academy schools outside local authority control that has become a signature policy of the Conservative education secretary, Michael Gove.The speech by the former schools minister marks Labour's first serious attempt to grapple with the introduction of free schools and the huge increase in academy schools outside local authority control that has become a signature policy of the Conservative education secretary, Michael Gove.
Twigg said maintained state schools should also enjoy the flexibility that academies have been granted. He announced that Labour's former education secretary David Blunkett would head a review into local oversight of schools – including free schools and academies – and giving communities a bigger say in creating new schools.Twigg said maintained state schools should also enjoy the flexibility that academies have been granted. He announced that Labour's former education secretary David Blunkett would head a review into local oversight of schools – including free schools and academies – and giving communities a bigger say in creating new schools.
"We need stronger local oversight for all schools so that struggling schools are spotted much sooner, local support is on hand to drive up standards, and schools have a clear relationship with their community," Twigg said."We need stronger local oversight for all schools so that struggling schools are spotted much sooner, local support is on hand to drive up standards, and schools have a clear relationship with their community," Twigg said.
"Currently, too many schools are coasting, yet because he is fixated on academy conversion, Michael Gove has no credible plan to drive up standards in schools once they have become academies.""Currently, too many schools are coasting, yet because he is fixated on academy conversion, Michael Gove has no credible plan to drive up standards in schools once they have become academies."
Part of Blunkett's remit will be to examine a new policy that Twigg called "parent academies", allowing parents to sponsor academies "to bring outside energy and expertise into the schools system" – suggesting that new academies could continue to be set up under a Labour administration.Part of Blunkett's remit will be to examine a new policy that Twigg called "parent academies", allowing parents to sponsor academies "to bring outside energy and expertise into the schools system" – suggesting that new academies could continue to be set up under a Labour administration.
Twigg also proposed that the successful London Challenge model, a key part of the revitalisation of London's schools, should be extended to forge partnerships between schools and spread best practice.Twigg also proposed that the successful London Challenge model, a key part of the revitalisation of London's schools, should be extended to forge partnerships between schools and spread best practice.
"That is why under Labour we would make it a requirement for all schools to partner with weaker schools as a condition for attaining an outstanding rating by Ofsted," Twigg said."That is why under Labour we would make it a requirement for all schools to partner with weaker schools as a condition for attaining an outstanding rating by Ofsted," Twigg said.
"I also want to make sure that new academy funding agreements, and the renewal of existing ones, are subject to these schools demonstrating a real commitment to playing their part in collaborating with other schools in their community.""I also want to make sure that new academy funding agreements, and the renewal of existing ones, are subject to these schools demonstrating a real commitment to playing their part in collaborating with other schools in their community."
Noting recent research showing that the best maintained state schools fell below national and regional averages in admitting pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, Twigg said there was a strong case for ensuring the school admissions code was being applied fairly.Noting recent research showing that the best maintained state schools fell below national and regional averages in admitting pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, Twigg said there was a strong case for ensuring the school admissions code was being applied fairly.
"We are seeing social selection playing out in the system and this worries me deeply," he said."We are seeing social selection playing out in the system and this worries me deeply," he said.
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