New direction for Sheffield's education

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 4th Jul 2007

The Liberal Democrat Group on Sheffield City Council are set to propose a new direction for Sheffield's local schools at tomorrows full council meeting. They are recommending that local schools look at joining together in federations rather than only looking at becoming controversial academy or trust schools. Another key proposed change is that local parents and communities should vote on any fundamental change to their local schools.

Lib Dems believe that the introduction of federations offers the best chance to raise exam results. They would strengthen collaborative working so that schools can share best practice and pool resources. Under the plan schools would still remain at the same sites.

Liberal Democrats are against the idea of trust and academy schools as they transfer education provision out of local authority control. This moves control of local schools away from parents and could lead to schools competing with each other rather than working together.

But the Lib Dems plan would mean local parents and the wider community has the final say on education provision in their local area.

Educational performance in Sheffield has been a cause for concern. Pupil exam figures are well below the national average and have been falling further behind under Labour.

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

"Exam results show that we are falling further behind the national average under Labour. Clearly this is unacceptable and we need a new direction. However, unlike Labour we do not believe that taking schools out of local control is the solution."

"We want local schools working together so that all our young people can get the best. This type of co-operation we are suggesting will mean families of local schools work together and pool resources to ensure a quality education for all. We believe that this is the best way to raise attainment and exam results across the city."

"Central to our alternative plan is the idea of local communities leading the debate on education provision in their area. They will be able to take a vote to decide the best way forward."

"We don't want to dictate to local people and we don't believe in a 'one-size fits all' policy. As far as the Liberal Democrats are concerned it is local communities, not council officers and politicians in the Town Hall, that should decide the future of education provision in their local area."

See the amendment to be moved at tomorrows council meeting attached

Amendment to Transforming Learning Strategy, moved by Cllr Anginotti seconded by Cllr Reynolds

Delete all to be replaced by: -

That this Council:

(a) believes in education delivered by a family of local community schools, supported by and accountable to local parents and the wider communities they serve, working together under strong leadership to provide all our young people with the skills and knowledge they need to become full and active citizens for the benefit of the whole city;

(b) reaffirms its commitment to good local authority comprehensive schools serving local communities;

(c) is dismayed that Sheffield is falling further behind the national average in terms of pupil attainment and believes that this worrying trend is unacceptable if all young people in Sheffield are able to have the best possible opportunities in life;

(d) believes that existing strategies are failing to provide a positive step-change in educational attainment and social mobility that our city requires;

(e) notes the outcome of the recent consultation with secondary school heads and governors, which is largely a response to requirements imposed on the city council by the Education & Inspections Act 2006;

(f) is concerned that the report put forward by the present administration focuses on 11 to 16 provision when there is clear evidence locally, nationally, and internationally that coherent and consistent strategies are needed across the 0-19 age ranges if the massive challenge facing Sheffield is to be addressed;

(g) does not believe that the best way to achieve an improvement in education is to transfer local schools over to unaccountable private organisations who have insufficient formal requirement to work in collaboration as a family of local schools, is therefore uncomfortable with the idea of trust and academy schools in Sheffield; however

(1) recognises that local schools can opt out of local authority control without council consent due to rules imposed through the Education & Inspections Act 2006;

(2) furthermore recognises that Government have indicated they may not release much needed investment if imposed requirements are not met;

(3) believes that if agreed citywide basic principles and values are adhered to, the local council should work to provide the preferred model of education provision as indicated by local parents and the wider community;

(h) therefore recommends that the best way forward is to provide a framework for schools that aims to mitigate the potential damage that trust and academy schools pose; by

(1) the pro-active promotion of innovative alternative models which bring about much greater collaboration and accountability and which still deliver diversity, including the recommendation that schools should explore the idea of entering into formal local federations, both in terms of secondary school with neighbouring secondary schools and secondary school with feeder schools;

(2) putting together tighter requirements for potential partners to ensure collaboration and accountability and which clearly favour appropriate local, community and public organisations/bodies;

(3) requiring that any proposal to fundamentally change education provision within a local area, including a change of school status to trust, academy or foundation, is sufficiently approved by the relevant parents and wider local community via a ballot;

(i) believes that the above can be achieved through a change of emphasis within the option recommended in the report, but on the condition that planned consultation is broadened out to include local communities and all relevant parents;

(j) supports in principle the 'Excellence and Equity Principles' as outlined in the 'Transforming Learning Strategy' report with the addition of a requirement for a ballot in the circumstances outlined above and the recognition that only trust and academy schools offer innovation and diversity;

(k) regrets that, due to Government policy, the 'Excellence and Equity Principles' cannot be legally binding;

(l) directs that a further report be submitted in due course, subject to genuine cross-party consultation and input, on the detail and implementation of a strategy which is based on and consistent with the change of emphasis as outlined within this motion and that they report should be submitted exclusively to full council and not any other council bodies.