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School plans 'boost parent power' | School plans 'boost parent power' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Parents in England could get the power to force councils to improve the quality of local schools under new plans to be announced by Gordon Brown. | Parents in England could get the power to force councils to improve the quality of local schools under new plans to be announced by Gordon Brown. |
The proposals would allow parents to demand action at a school even if their children were not pupils. | The proposals would allow parents to demand action at a school even if their children were not pupils. |
Currently, worried parents can trigger an inquiry by the schools inspector Ofsted, but only the government can compel councils to act. | Currently, worried parents can trigger an inquiry by the schools inspector Ofsted, but only the government can compel councils to act. |
The Lib Dems dismissed the prime minister's ideas as "desperate stuff". | The Lib Dems dismissed the prime minister's ideas as "desperate stuff". |
Mr Brown is expected to outline the plans in a speech on Tuesday. | Mr Brown is expected to outline the plans in a speech on Tuesday. |
The proposals are expected to be part of the Schools White Paper being published in June. | The proposals are expected to be part of the Schools White Paper being published in June. |
If agreed, they would give parents of primary age pupils the right to complain about a secondary school that their children might attend in the future. | If agreed, they would give parents of primary age pupils the right to complain about a secondary school that their children might attend in the future. |
The local authority would then be compelled to take steps to raise standards there. | The local authority would then be compelled to take steps to raise standards there. |
Actions could include replacing the head teacher or forcing the struggling school to work in partnership with a successful one to effect change. | Actions could include replacing the head teacher or forcing the struggling school to work in partnership with a successful one to effect change. |
City academies | City academies |
The details of the proposals are still to be finalised. | The details of the proposals are still to be finalised. |
For example, it is not clear yet exactly how parent dissatisfaction would be measured, although one option could be to use so-called school report cards, proposed by Schools Secretary Ed Balls in March. | For example, it is not clear yet exactly how parent dissatisfaction would be measured, although one option could be to use so-called school report cards, proposed by Schools Secretary Ed Balls in March. |
The education department is fast running out of money David Laws, Lib Dems | The education department is fast running out of money David Laws, Lib Dems |
These would give schools an overall grade and would take into account the progress of every child, not just the average. | These would give schools an overall grade and would take into account the progress of every child, not just the average. |
It is also not clear whether greater parental power would apply to every state school. | It is also not clear whether greater parental power would apply to every state school. |
Some, like city academies, are publicly funded, but are not controlled by councils. However, local authorities do still have a strategic role in the overall quality of all schools in their area. | Some, like city academies, are publicly funded, but are not controlled by councils. However, local authorities do still have a strategic role in the overall quality of all schools in their area. |
Responding to the proposals, Lib Dem education spokesman David Laws said they did "nothing to challenge the impression of a government which has little to offer either parents or pupils". | Responding to the proposals, Lib Dem education spokesman David Laws said they did "nothing to challenge the impression of a government which has little to offer either parents or pupils". |
"This sounds like pretty desperate stuff from the prime minister," Mr Laws added. | "This sounds like pretty desperate stuff from the prime minister," Mr Laws added. |
"The vast majority of this speech isn't new, and what is new is unlikely to be delivered by a government which increasingly looks like it is in its final death throes. | |
"The education department is fast running out of money and has also clearly run out of ideas and direction." | "The education department is fast running out of money and has also clearly run out of ideas and direction." |