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Parent Power

Parent power

24 February 2010

The Government has announced plans to allow parents to vote to change a school's leadership where there is significant dissatisfaction locally. In line with Labour's Accredited Schools Group/Provider initiative, parents would be able to choose from a list of accredited organisations to take over running the school. Gordon Brown promised parents "a strong voice and real power".

Comparisons with the Conservative's education policy - they want to make it easier for parents to set up new schools - will no doubt be rife. Ed Balls himself was quick to argue that while the Tory policy requires "busy working parents" to set up their own schools if they are not happy with their local state school, the Government's proposals enable parents to "demand change and get a new and quality-guaranteed provider".

It seems to be becoming rather trendy for political parties to drop the "P" word into their education manifestos. It will be interesting to see whether this dedication to parent power will run out of steam following the General Election.

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