‘Parent power’ tops Labour’s education pledges
Improving the power of parents has topped the list in Labour’s mini-election manifesto launch today.
Tony Blair and Education Secretary Ruth Kelly said that they would personalise the school system to the needs of every child.
Mr Blair said that the education document was the first in a series of policy papers that the party would be publishing over the coming weeks.
“We are starting with education because education was, is, and will remain our number one priority.”
He reiterated his view that improving education would be crucial in order to ensure Britain’s prosperity and said that the party had credibility in its pronunciations on education due to its record on investment, results and standards.
“However, on these foundations a fundamental system-wide change is taking place which we will take forward decisively if re-elected. Step by step we are putting ‘parent power’ at the heart of the education system – giving all parents, not just a minority as in the past, the choices and opportunities needed for their children to succeed,” Mr Blair added.
“We can do our bit as Government. But in the end it is down to teachers, parents and young pupils and students. I have genuine confidence in them to meet the challenge of being the best educated workforce in the world.”
Speaking at the launch, Education Secretary Ruth Kelly said that they would tailor the school system to suit individual pupils to ensure every child received a “quality education”.
The education plan included “substantial investment” in under-5 provision, more options for parents among a range of good and excellent schools, and “radical” plans to allow pupils to mix vocational and academic studies.
Ms Kelly said the plan would ensure each child was treated as an individual of equal worth.
The Secondary Heads Association (SHA) said that many of the announcements had been heard before, but they had concerns about the emphasis on parental rights and the implementation of personalised learning.
Deputy general secretary Martin Ward said: “The Government must realise that tailored education is expensive and needs to be properly funded and supported. If it is not, they will raise parents’ expectations of a service that schools cannot deliver.
“Most schools are already trying very hard to involve parents in their children’s education. SHA believes that, while parents want to be consulted, they want to leave management of schools to professionals. They want their schools run by experienced, knowledgeable teachers and staff, who know what is best for their children.”
Liberal Democrat education spokesman Phil Willis said the proposals were just an illusion, and the real answer is smaller class sizes.
Mr Willis said: “Parents want to hear that teachers will have more time with their child, and the only way to guarantee that is to reduce class sizes.
“Smaller groups for some children, after hours, possibly with teaching assistants, is simply not a viable alternative to more pupil-teacher interaction for all children.
“It is clear that Labour’s view of choice is separating out different groups of children according to their ability and social class – policies that are more akin to the Tories than traditional Labour values.”
And the Conservatives said that the plans were all talk.
Shadow Education Secretary Tim Collins said: “Mr Blair’s government has spent eight years denying parents the choice of a high-quality education for their children. Now, just eight weeks before the election, he tells us he believes in ‘parent power’ and choice. All talk.”
