The Blue Print

Leighton Andrews, the Education Minister has decided to get ideological in his latest proposed Education Measure.

In addition to the usual flannel which we expect in Ministerial statements about cooperation and collaboration and the like he added what to me is the most important statement on the future of education that we have seen from this administration. He said:

I will also be seeking views on a proposal to prevent an increase in the number of foundation schools. Each of these schools administers its own admissions, adding to the complexity of the local authority task of planning and providing school places. I therefore currently intend to prevent schools from changing category to become foundation schools, and to prevent any new foundation schools being established. This should retain the status quo in terms of the number of admission authorities, with the aim of ensuring that, as far as possible, local authorities are able to plan school places on a strategic basis.

The attitude of the Welsh Assembly Government towards Foundation Schools is clear in this ministerial statement. On this basis, regardless of the legal requirements of assessing an application to become a Foundation School, I am now fearful that Leighton Andrews is going to reject the application by Whitchurch High School to become such a school.

If the Assembly Government fail to support the High School it will lay the school wide open to a sustained attack by Cardiff Council who wish to damage what they have achieved. We need schools that are flexible, innovative and capable of determining their futures without the constant unnecessary interference of politicians and local education authorities.

I am challenging Leighton Andrews to confirm that he will be deciding the future of Whitchurch High School on the merit of their application, and the established framework within which such decisions are supposed to be taken, not on his ideological drivel spelt out in this statement today.

Families throughout Cardiff North want fairness from the Assembly Government, but I am afraid I do not trust the Assembly Government to deliver it.