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Labour backs parent-led schools, shadow minister insists Labour backs parent-led schools, shadow minister insists
(about 5 hours later)
Labour is "on the side" of parents who want to set up schools and would not shut most existing free schools, the new shadow education secretary insists.Labour is "on the side" of parents who want to set up schools and would not shut most existing free schools, the new shadow education secretary insists.
Tristram Hunt told the BBC Labour backed "enterprise and innovation" when it came to increasing school places.Tristram Hunt told the BBC Labour backed "enterprise and innovation" when it came to increasing school places.
A future Labour government would push ahead with what it calls parent-led academies in areas of educational need.A future Labour government would push ahead with what it calls parent-led academies in areas of educational need.
The government accuses Labour of saying it will end free schools and then promoting them under another name. The Conservatives said Labour's policy had not changed and it still preferred schools to be "run by bureaucrats".
Free schools, set up by parents and other groups and operating outside local authority control, have been established under a flagship policy pioneered by Education Secretary Michael Gove.Free schools, set up by parents and other groups and operating outside local authority control, have been established under a flagship policy pioneered by Education Secretary Michael Gove.
More than 170 have been opened across England since September 2011.More than 170 have been opened across England since September 2011.
Labour has been accused of sending out mixed messages about the party's support for them, opposing their roll-out at a national level but backing individual schools locally.Labour has been accused of sending out mixed messages about the party's support for them, opposing their roll-out at a national level but backing individual schools locally.
'Vanity project''Vanity project'
Mr Hunt, who took over from Stephen Twigg as the party's education spokesman last week, described free schools as a "vanity project for yummy mummies" in 2010 but has now said he regrets those comments.Mr Hunt, who took over from Stephen Twigg as the party's education spokesman last week, described free schools as a "vanity project for yummy mummies" in 2010 but has now said he regrets those comments.
He told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that Labour's position on free schools had not changed and that while a future Labour government would not open new ones "along the Michael Gove model", the bulk of existing ones would be kept open.He told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that Labour's position on free schools had not changed and that while a future Labour government would not open new ones "along the Michael Gove model", the bulk of existing ones would be kept open.
"We will keep the good free schools when we get into government.""We will keep the good free schools when we get into government."
Citing the case of the Al-Madinah free school in Derby - which is threatened with closure after it was found by Ofsted to have discriminated towards female staff, delivered a poor standard of education, and failed to ensure the safety of children - Mr Hunt said Labour would not allow schools to become an "ideological experiment".Citing the case of the Al-Madinah free school in Derby - which is threatened with closure after it was found by Ofsted to have discriminated towards female staff, delivered a poor standard of education, and failed to ensure the safety of children - Mr Hunt said Labour would not allow schools to become an "ideological experiment".
"What is going on with the Al-Madinah school is a terrifying example of the mistakes of Michael Gove's education policy," he said, suggesting that there had been "no oversight" of how the school was being run."What is going on with the Al-Madinah school is a terrifying example of the mistakes of Michael Gove's education policy," he said, suggesting that there had been "no oversight" of how the school was being run.
"400 kids have been sent home for the week. They have had no schooling because of an ideological experiment by Michael Gove and that cannot be right.""400 kids have been sent home for the week. They have had no schooling because of an ideological experiment by Michael Gove and that cannot be right."
'Properly qualified''Properly qualified'
New schools, he added, should only be opened in areas where there was a shortage of places, where "properly qualified" staff could be recruited and where institutions were financially accountable and transparent.New schools, he added, should only be opened in areas where there was a shortage of places, where "properly qualified" staff could be recruited and where institutions were financially accountable and transparent.
Under Labour's plans, parent-led academies would also enable parent groups and other organisations to set up schools outside local authority control, although local authorities would have greater powers to intervene when there were concerns about standards.Under Labour's plans, parent-led academies would also enable parent groups and other organisations to set up schools outside local authority control, although local authorities would have greater powers to intervene when there were concerns about standards.
"If you are a group of parents, social entrepreneurs and teachers interested in setting up a school in areas where you need new school places, then the Labour government will be on your side."If you are a group of parents, social entrepreneurs and teachers interested in setting up a school in areas where you need new school places, then the Labour government will be on your side.
"We are in favour of enterprise and innovation.""We are in favour of enterprise and innovation."
'Retrograde'
In response, the Conservatives said shadow chancellor Ed Balls had made it clear in a speech in June that the party would curb new schools in areas where they was an "excess" of places.
In the speech, Mr Balls said a future Labour government would face tough choices on spending and suggested it would prioritise resources on areas where school places were in "short supply".
"Nothing's changed," a Conservative spokesman said. "Labour still oppose free schools - good new schools run by parents and teachers, not bureaucrats. It's the same old Labour."
Former home secretary David Blunkett is currently heading a review for Labour into how academies and other schools should work with local authorities.
Journalist Toby Young, who helped set up a free school in west London, said Mr Hunt had been "less than candid" about Labour's policy as it was considering granting councils the power of veto over free schools in their boroughs.
Writing on The Telegraph blog, Mr Young - who has said he is thinking of applying to be a Conservative candidate at the next election - said this would be a "retrograde step" since councils would be unlikely to approve new schools close to existing ones which were under-performing.
More generally, Mr Hunt said there needed to be more focus on vocational education with support for further education colleges and apprenticeships in industry.More generally, Mr Hunt said there needed to be more focus on vocational education with support for further education colleges and apprenticeships in industry.
As a professional historian with a PHD from Cambridge, Mr Hunt said he would "take no lessons" from Mr Gove on the need for academic rigour and standards in education but suggested the government had become "obsessed" with tinkering with the curriculum and the examinations system.As a professional historian with a PHD from Cambridge, Mr Hunt said he would "take no lessons" from Mr Gove on the need for academic rigour and standards in education but suggested the government had become "obsessed" with tinkering with the curriculum and the examinations system.