THE NUT CALLS FOR THE DEMOCRACY DEFICIT  IN EDUCATION TO BE TACKLED.

27 December 2007

The National Union of Teachers today calls on the Government to consider radical new democratic structures for schools which will empower local communities and those that use, or work in local schools. Steve Sinnott, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union said;

“While I welcome the genuine commitment within the Children’s Plan to joining up the services supporting young people, it fails to address the democratic deficit at local level.

“Good local schools have the capacity and power not only to trigger educational regeneration in tough, deprived communities but also social and economic regeneration.

“Schools in the toughest areas will always remain fragile if the communities surrounding them are fractured and dysfunctional, with no community voice. Establishing school boards plugs the widening gap in local democracy and ensures all those concerned with securing successful schools are heard”.

“There are a number of separate educational jurisdictions within the United Kingdom. Within all these jurisdictions, educational developments take place with little reference to each other. The opportunity for these systems to share experiences and innovations is barely taken up. A United Kingdom Council for Education would work for all counties in Britain without undermining their autonomy.”