Last night I held an adjournment debate regarding the consultation process Bedford has embarked upon with regard to altering the Bedfordshire education structure from three to two tiers. The Minister responding was Iain Wright, Minister for Schools and Families.

Alistair Burt dived in at the end rather than intervening to make his own points.

The debate, for me personally, and I believe both parents and children was a huge success as the Minister made certain points very clear indeed.

With regard to the £340 million required to effect the change, supposedly to be provided by the ‘Building Schools for the Future Fund’, the Minister was quite clear.

It is therefore vital that any plans that Bedford brings forward are predicated on responding to the educational needs of its pupils, and not on how much funding it gets. If a change of school organisation is proposed, the educational rationale for doing so must be clearly established.

Providing the educational rationale would almost be impossible for Bedford Council to do as there is no evidence to show that the two tier system produces better educational outcomes, in fact, the evidence is the opposite. In areas where the change has been made from three to two there is demonstrable evidence which proves a sharp dip in standards with recovery taking a very long time indeed.

The Minister also stated;

Local people should decide what provision should be like in their area. In the case of Bedford, local people have until 24 July to have their say, and I encourage all those concerned to do so.

Education was not in the Mayoral remit when the existing Mayor took office; therefore he has no mandate to take this decision. Local people have the right to decide and if such a decision is to take place, it should do so via a referendum of all parents with children up to the age of 18, all teachers and governors, and as the Minister said, ‘local people should decide’.

I hope parents who read this will also note the procedure highlighted by the Minister for the consultation process and check that it has been adhered to by the letter.

The link for the whole debate is here;

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2009-07-06a.811.0&s=nadine+dorries#g815.0

The Minister also strongly indicated that the Government has no preference with regard to 2/3 and that is because, sensibly, it is down to local culture, leadership, the relationship between parents, teachers and councils as to what works best and in fact the provision of education at a local level is quite complex in terms of its organisation and delivery.

Having seen standards of education rise across Bedfordshire for three years on the trot, within the three tier system, it will be very difficult indeed for Bedford to make the case for change.

It should aslo be more honest in the evidence it provides to parents. The Bedford consultation document tries to compare apples with pears. When comparing educational atainment in Bedfordshire, the document removes fee paying schools from the equation, however, nationaly,fee paying schools are included. The document then compares the results on  national level. How stupid does Bedford council think parents are?

If the Mayor, who incidentally has not attended one single consultation meeting to hear the views of one single parent, would just listen to the views of parents, as the Minister stated, then education in Bedfordshire is a done deal. It stays three tier, because it's working well as the last three years results show.