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Schools in the Spotlight

Posted by Philip Dunne, MP for Ludlow, at 09:55, Fri 3 December 2010:

Last week the Government published its Schools White Paper setting out plans for transforming performance in Britain's schools.

The White Paper addresses seven aspects of schooling: improving teaching and leadership; ensuring better pupil behaviour; restoring rigour to the curriculum, assessment and qualifications; allowing new schools to develop and existing schools to expand; giving parents information to make schools more accountable; transforming under-performing schools; and introducing fairer school funding.

On the same day students protested in Whitehall and in universities across the country. People obviously have a right to engage in lawful and peaceful protest, but the violence and intimidation of some, undermined the students' case.

But these events showed that education, from primary schools to universities, is likely to be one of the main areas of focus in public sector reform during this Parliament.

In Shropshire the council is about to publish its conclusions from the extensive consultation on the shape of Shropshire's schools for the future.

Decisions being taken by Shropshire Council next year should reflect the direction in which the Government is seeking to improve school standards and the educational achievement of students.

School funding has been a thorny problem for rural authorities like Shropshire, made more difficult by declining school rolls in the county, while urban school populations are rising. Some change is likely as school numbers fall across the county.

I have been making the case for fairer rural funding for several years. Despite the appalling state of the public finances which we inherited and are trying to sort out, I am encouraged that a new fairer funding system will emerge. This will sit alongside the new pupil premium to support disadvantaged children, and allow Shropshire schools to provide even higher quality education for our children to be better prepared for university or the world of work.

Yours

Philip