Lib Dem statement on schools strategy

3.03.11pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 22nd Jun 2007

The local Liberal Democrats have given their initial reaction to the schools strategy proposed by the Labour administration on Sheffield City Council. Labour propose to encourage schools to opt out of local authority control to become trust or academy schools.

Cllr Sylvia Anginotti, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Education, said: -

"Poor educational attainment is one of the biggest issues facing Sheffield today and its one of the Liberal Democrats key priorities. The fact that Sheffield has been falling further behind the national average on pupil attainment over the last five years is unacceptable, we cannot maintain the status quo."

"However, the question is does the strategy outlined offer Sheffield the best possible solution to raise educational achievement across the city?"

"Labours report seems to be pre-occupied with structures and governance, but we have to ask the question will this directly improve educational achievement. In our view it should be more about dynamic leadership and allowing schools and teachers the freedom and support to bring about improvements."

"We want to ensure that every community has a good local school that is accountable back to local parents. It's vital that local people can influence decisions on local education provision - we only have to look at the Wisewood/Myers Grove issue to recognise this. This will be at the forefront of our thinking when we make our proposals on how best to deal with this issue."

"It should be noted that In our election manifesto we where very clear on our position on trust and academy schools. We would not accept effectively privatising local schools. We want to encourage collaboration, not competition. That's what I believe local people want too."