Rob Wilson's Westminster Diary: October 13, 2011
Rob Wilson MP • Published 14 Oct 2011 08:50
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GREAT news for education this week with the Government approving a new school to be set up in east Reading.
I was in the Commons to welcome the good news and I am grateful to the Secretary of State, Michael Gove, for kind words of support for my efforts to change education in this country.
The new east Reading school is going to be a 14-19 University Technical College (UTC) rather than the 11-19 school that the bid asked for!
Although, to be absolutely fair, there were two parts to the school in the bid; one catering for the 11-13 age group that followed (as it has to) the national guidelines, and another 14-19 that mirrored the UTC-style schools.
I know the local authority has expressed disappointment because it projects that Reading will have a shortfall in school places in the not too distant future.
But I am happy to continue to work with it to ensure there are enough places and that parents have sufficient choice in the local system.
However, this should not detract from the huge step forward that education has made this week with many more new free schools announced.
One of my criticisms over the years is that education has been handed down to parents by the Local Education Authority and we should all be grateful and take what is on offer.
It has led to an underperformance town and a lack of a decent education for many.
This old command and control system is being swept away, much to the consternation of the educational establishment and bureaucrats.
The new schools, like the UTC I have instigated and championed, will inject a new dynamism and choice into the system for parents and young people.
The result in years to come will see all schools lifting their game and delivering more.
I am delighted to be playing my part at Westminster in engineering these important changes that will give young people the best possible start in life.
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