Northampton Schools need less Government interference not more says Lib Dem

8.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 25th Oct 2005

"Schools need less Whitehall interference not more"

Northampton North Lib Dem campaigner Andrew Simpson has criticised Tony Blair's plans for school reform as 'yet more interference in our education system from a Government obsessed by central control'.

The Government has announced plans to turn every school into a 'self governing independent state school' which would allow heads to determine their own admissions and encourage business, faith groups and parents to start their own schools. The role of Local Education Authorities would be reduced and they would be barred in future from setting up new council-run schools.

"This will create a free-for all- in admissions policy that could see middle and lower income families alike could be excluded on the whim of a headteacher's interview.Government proposals are a bureaucratic nightmare and a recipe for parental confusion." said Andrew Simpson

"Schools need more freedom from Whitehall not just from the town hall. Smaller classes, better trained teachers, and a more relevant curriculum should be the priorities for improving standards in secondary education. The Government has passed 7 Education Bills and been in power for 8 years and yet they are still messing around with the system." he continued