Parent power

THERE could be no clearer indication that a General Election looms ever closer than the sight of Labour and the Conservatives squabbling over who is more parent-friendly when it comes to running schools. Gordon Brown's announcement of what he says will be new powers for parents to oust what they perceive as failing management appears to be a blatant attempt to muscle in on a Tory pledge already made.

Mantras have a nasty habit of haunting those who utter them, and let us not forget Mr Brown speaks for a Government that swept to a landslide victory nearly 13 years ago on a credo of "education, education, education".

Labour has not covered itself in glory on the management of schools since then; indeed, many who work in them complain bitterly that the past decade has delivered little other than a burden of red tape and unrealistic targets that have done little to benefit children. Voters then are hardly likely to believe that Mr Brown has now come up with an answer to the ills of failing schools as the weeks tick away to an election.

In truth, both the Labour and Tory plans have the unsavoury whiff of gimmickry about them. Tinkering with the structures of who runs schools is more likely to produce more bureaucracy than better education.

What makes the difference are good, motivated teachers and good leadership, both within the school and in the body that oversees it. Both the major parties should tread carefully; parents are wary, and indeed weary, of politicians using the education of children to score points.