New powers for parents to oust poor school leadership

Gordon Brown revealed yesterday that if parents in England demand a change councils will be forced to bring in an approved education provider with a track record of successfully running schools elsewhere.

The Prime Minister and Schools Secretary Ed Balls have announced the first wave of schools, colleges and universities to be given an Accredited School kitemark, enabling them to run chains of secondaries.

These included the Outwood Grange family of schools, in Wakefield, and both Hull and Bradford College.

Speaking at a London school, Mr Brown told of the "anger and frustration" he felt at seeing his own contemporaries fail to fulfil their potential because of poor educational standards.

He said: "We simply will not accept second best when it comes to the future of our children."

However the Conservatives have accused the Government of responding to Tory plans to give parents powers to open their own schools.

Shadow Children's Secretary Michael Gove said: "Real choice for parents means allowing new schools to open which are free from the control of politicians and therefore properly answerable to parents, not a ballot system allowing a tiny handful of existing schools to federate."

Accredited Schools Groups will be able to run chains of up to three schools.