The Coalition and Education

The Conservative-Lib Dem Coalition can't be accused of having let the grass grown under its feet on education. They are clearly starting as they mean to go on. The centrpiece of their plans revolves around the massive expansion of the Academies programme and the introduction of Free Schools.

Let's be clear from the outset I am strongly opposed to these policies and believe they will have unwanted consequences for education in Britain. However, one should not forget that Labour had already opened the doors to the priviatising agenda in education and the new government has driven a coach and horses through it.

So why am I opposed?

1. I don't think education as a market works like other areas. If schools continually open and close the education for many is likely to get worse not better. If one school fails will others be able to enter the market quickly enough to provide places to a high enough standard?

2. The conditions for those working in education are likely to diminish and this is unlikely to lead to better provision.

3. There is a profound democratic deficit - schools will not be locally accountable. You only choice will be to go there or not to go there and often you won't even have that choice due to oversubscription elsewhere.

4. The supposed improvements in Academies have often been for reasons far removed from excellence. 'Easier' courses are chosen which carry more points. Academies, I believe, are not covered by FOI legislation - what have they got to be scared of? What will academies do for the number of linguists, scientists etc. that are needed -my guess is not a lot. There is a real fracturing of comprehensive education. Many students from poorer backgrounds are doing better in one sense, but at what cost? I heard from a college principal who was concerned that students were keen to do A Level Sciences but their GCSE courses and increasingly equivalents had made this near impossible. Also academies have a tendency to 'alter' their intake leading to better results.

5. I fear we will move back to de facto secondary moderns and I can already see this in some schools. I would be very surprised if there is not more selection in a decade's time.

What is wrong with local schools, democratically accountable to their local community? Seems to work pretty well in Finland.

Labour Leadership Considered

Thought I should post with my thoughts on the Labour Leadership Contest.

Thought Number 1 - It should be easier for candidates to get on the ballot paper, especially when there is a 'vacancy'. I certainly don't think constant challenges to the Leader are a good idea, but when there is an open contest, it should be really 'open'. I think it would be a good thing for McDonnell or Abbott, or both, to be on the ballot paper, especially as it is not a FPTP election.

Thought Number 2 - There should be a Deputy Leadership Election at the same time. If that had happened I would have voted for Cruddas.

Thought Number 3 - I don't think the field is the strongest I have ever seen. Compare with 1976 when Jenkins, Healey, Crosland, Callaghan, Benn and Foot stood. Are potentially good candidates put off by the style of modern politics?

Thought 4 - So who to vote for? I am sure all the candidates have their virtues and it would be good if as many as possible could stand. Whether fair or not, I feel that Balls will never be popular enough in the country to serve as PM. I was not massively impressed by him at the DCSF. Milliband (D)'s support from some of the most Blairite probably does not help his cause and there is a feeling that his candidature is a 'back to the future' one. I don't see McDonnell or Abbott having a chance. So that leaves Burnham and Miliband (E). So as things stand I can see myself plumping for Ed Miliband and I have thought from the outset he will win. He is an extremely good speaker and I don't see him provoking the opposition that others might face from specific groups in the party. I think he needs to stake out a modern, liberal, social democratic approach where the Labour Party will be more committed to equality. If he does that I can see him being the next Labour Leader.

The Coalition Viewed from the South West

The Election results were actually very similar to what I expected. But I did not expect a full blown Conservative - Liberal Coalition. I think it is the Lib Dems who are most at risk. In the South West many of their candidates have traditionally received support from members of the electorate who might well vote Labour under another election system. Already many of those who felt themselves to be broadly on the Left say they will never vote Lib Dem again. Also any successes the Government has will probably be seen as due to the Conservatives.

Whereas many Labour supporters in the South West have not really pushed things over the last few weeks in terms of opposing the Lib Dems in many constituencies I doubt that will be the case at the next General Election. If Labour play their cards right there is a substantial group of 'Left Liberal' voters who will find it very hard to vote Liberal next time.