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Dobbo hits out at school plans

Holborn MP attacks Blair’s academy policy
HOLBORN and St Pancras MP Frank Dobson has attacked government plans for education, vowing to fight any efforts to roll out the controversial city academy programme in Camden.
He is concerned that University College London in Bloomsbury has expressed an interest in working with the government to build a new academy in the south of the borough.
Mr Dobson said: “I’ve spent years trying to persuade University College London to take an interest in schools in the area. There is no reason why they shouldn’t do that – but that doesn’t have to mean sponsoring an academy. I would be opposed to UCL sponsoring an academy or promoting the idea of having an academy in this area.”
His comments echo concerns held by the Labour group at the Town Hall with most of the party’s top brass ideologically opposed to the idea of city academies.
The new scheme allows private sponsorship for schools, effectively removing them from the control and influence of local authorities. While members are keen to build a new school south of the Euston Road to meet the high demand for secondary places, few want to see outside sponsorship. They instead want direct investment from the government to improve existing schools.
Mr Dobson is among MPs rallying against the government’s education white paper – supporting alternative proposals drawn up by backbenchers.
He said: “The current white paper would effectively create privileged schools. It is necessary to have a system where the local education authority has the right to have the control to make sure all pupils get the best possible chance.”
An alternative white paper, which included calls for a code of practice on admissions policy, was drawn together by 50 MPs and published yesterday (Wednesday).
Despite high-profile support from ex-ministers Estelle Morris, John Denham and Nick Raynsford, Prime Minister Tony Blair has so far warned that he can not accept the coalition’s demands and is heading for a Parliamentary showdown with the rebels.
 



Don't waste your finest on relatives

DO you enjoy or endure Christmas? It isn’t only that we’re bullied into spending money we haven’t got.
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