PM: Parent power to push councils
Local councils will be obliged to take action to improve education standards if there is "significant dissatisfaction" among local parents about secondary schools in their area, under proposals outlined by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Mr Brown offered the extension of parent power as he sought to divert attention back on to the policy agenda after a bruising week which has raised questions about his political authority.
In a speech to school leaders in south London, he dismissed Conservative proposals to allow parents, faith groups and companies to set up independent schools within the state sector as a "free market free-for-all" which would fail a generation of children left behind in weaker schools.
Instead, he outlined a range of measures which he said would give parents greater power to influence and shape the education offered to their children and allow teachers greater freedom and flexibility in the way schools are run.
The changes - to be detailed in an education white paper by Children's Secretary Ed Balls next month - include a new obligation for councils to respond to parents' concerns.
Under the plan, this could involve good schools being expanded or federating with under-performing ones or entirely new schools being opened.
"We will look at how local authorities can improve their knowledge of what parents want and how satisfied they are with their local schools and where there is significant dissatisfaction with the pattern of secondary school provision, and where standards across an area are too low - then the local authority will be required to act," said Mr Brown
"This could mean either the creation of a federation of schools, an expansion of good school places or, in some cases, the establishment of entirely new schools.
"Working towards these improvements needs to happen within the context of a system of fair admissions - so that the education of other children in the area will not be undermined. Unlike the free-market free-for-all, this is a policy agenda focused on raising standards for all - not raising standards for some at the expense of others."
Mr Brown also highlighted plans to ensure that parents are able to access information on their child's progress via the internet and for every secondary pupil to benefit from a personal tutor. A new school report card will provide parents with information on the overall performance of their child's school.
