Education White Paper - NUT reaction

25 October 2005

Commenting on the new Education White Paper, Steve Sinnott, NUT General Secretary, said:

“This is an extraordinarily wrong-headed White Paper. The Education Secretary’s picture of legions of parents knocking on the door to control schools is not based in reality.

“Parents do not want to control schools. They want to know they can turn to their head teacher or teacher if they have questions about their children’s education. They want to know their child is happy, safe and learning. Above all they want a good local school for their children.

“The vision of so-called academy style freedoms with a new and confused role for local authorities is hardly a recipe for stability and confidence amongst both teachers and parents.

“Instead of democratic accountability through education authorities we have a confusing mish mash of trusts and parents’ councils all with a say in the running of our schools.
This is a tangled web of responsibility rather than clear lines.

“The pity is that hidden amongst outlandish ideas, the White Paper has some genuinely good proposals. In particular, the commitment to personalised learning which the Union has been urging on the Government. That is now to be delivered with ring-fenced funding.

“If the Education Secretary is sincere about new freedoms in the National Curriculum, the profession will be delighted.”