The Lib Dems launched their manifesto today and while I haven’t gone through every single line of it, the bits I have looked at and concerns me most is education; and it is not promising I have to say. They intend to invest £2.5bn extra in schools to cut class sizes, and provide 1:1 tuition and catch-up classes; my question is how will they pay for this? This is what all politicians do – make huge promises which are never fulfilled once they are in office, for the simple reason that it can’t work in real life! Have to say I am not filled with a lot of confidence with their plans – Lib Dems that is, they don’t scream out at me they are ready to govern.
Anyway that’s not my issue in this blog. I am more concerned about another promise, pledge – call it what you want that they (the Lib Dems) are suggesting. They would like to implement separate school league tables – like in football where there will be a table for ‘rich’ schools and another for ‘poor’ schools. The Schools spokesperson Mr Laws suggests that it will be a fairer way of measuring schools when local schools with similar areas are compared together. So factors such as the number of ethnic minorities, free school meals and migrant children will be used to determine which ‘league’ schools will fall in. This I find outrageous! So if an academy in South East London for example is doing well and has been rated as a high performer will be put in the ‘poorer’ league because it is in a disadvantaged area – it still maybe a high achieving school but relegated to the ‘poorer’ league that’s all. Where is the sense in this please?
Mr Laws is not worried of the effect this would have on children’s aspirations and their ability to attain for a better life – no, Mr Laws is more concerned about separating the rich and poor – in my opinion. To me it is obvious he hasn’t thought about what this policy will do to children from disadvantaged areas – it is just another label for them!
If they have been fortunate to get into an academy that’s properly run, has attracted good teachers that inspire them to ‘reach for the stars’, the students do better than average, the Lib Dems want to re-label them as coming from a good school in the ‘poorer’ league! They already live that life – it is their reality most of the time! What good is going to come out of this looking at it from the children’s perspective – NONE! The next thing will be teachers leaving to go to schools in the ‘richer’ league, and that’s the beginning of the end. Yes I know teachers do what they do because they love it but schools in the ‘poorer’ areas will have to pay a premium to attract good teachers – and the biggest losers are the children; and that’s why I have given them a yellow card.
I don’t think this idea will make the tables any clearer. Maybe Im unusual but I don’t pay too much attention to the tables – most people know they offer a limited view. Anecdotal information is far more useful.
Regarding the Lib Dems and politics in general, I feel that this time round the ‘other two’ parties are far more aware that the Lib Dems are being looked at more seriously, and maybe that will bring about a better awareness of their responsibilities, and heaven forbid, they may not treat the voters like fools any more!
Hi Jill, Thanks for your comments, and I agree with you – the tables will confuse parents and everyone alike. I can’t imagine they think it is good idea! I am paying a lot of attention to this year’s election and I think there is far less complacency from all parties. They have to earn every vote this time! I just hope we don’t get short-changed after the election, and the elected will actually do what they have said!