Liberal Democrats lead opposition to Education White Paper

At the Council Meeting Surrey's Lib Dem Councillors proposed a motion calling on the County Council to reject a number of key elements of the White Paper. Liberal Democrat Schools Spokeswoman, County Councillor Diana Smith said, "There are some very bad ideas in this white paper. Ideas that, if implemented, could do real damage to Surrey's schools."

Surrey's Liberal Democrats, supported by their Westminster colleagues, are spearheading the opposition to the Government's White Paper "Higher Standards, Better Schools for All". However, the motion was voted down, so the Council will therefore miss the opportunity to raise these issues with the Government at an early stage.

Diana Smith said, "Making schools their own admissions authorities, and encouraging them to expand to take in all comers, will reduce parent choice. Small schools, already faced with falling school rolls, could be forced to close. At secondary level, if all schools set their own admissions criteria, it will be harder, not easier, to achieve a fair entry system. The Government says they won't bring back the eleven plus, but with the complicated system proposed it is likely that schools will choose the sort of pupils that they want, rather than parents choosing the school."

She added "The Government's other outstandingly bad idea is to get rid of Community Schools, and push every school towards 'Trust' status. This will give parents and the local community less, not more control over what goes on. Trusts will be able to appoint the majority of Governors, balanced only by a 'Parents Council' concerned with day-to-day matters, rather than the long-term welfare of the school. "It is deeply disappointing to see Conservatives unwilling to condemn Labour proposals that are clearly going to do more harm than good in Surrey."

County Councillor Eddie Owen (Guildford East) seconded the motion. He said "This White Paper is not only flawed but dangerous - dangerous to the health of our education system and dangerous to our children's education. We want to work towards all Surrey's schools being good schools. It is the right of every Surrey child - every Surrey student - every parent's expectation to receive the best education we can provide, and it is our duty to provide it."

"I am involved with many schools - both mainstream and special" he continued "and not one employee from head to toe has said that they are in favour of these White Paper proposals. This is not the time for ideological unsound spin. We must as Surrey County Councillors, be unified in giving this very clear message to Government. Supporting this motion will give the Government a clear message from Surrey. We support sense, we support good education for all, and we support our schools and do not want this proposed legislation to damage the progress we have made."