Schools ‘must not become profitable’

LABOUR has ruled out allowing free schools to ever become profit-making enterprises as it revealed plans to help pay the tuition fees of students who become teachers in poor areas.

Shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg said Labour is unlikely to scrap the free schools initiative launched by his Conservative counterpart Michael Gove, but made clear the new establishments should never be allowed to turn a financial profit, as they are in other countries.

“Labour cannot be against schools that drive up standards and narrow the gap in life chances,” Mr Twigg said. “However, there are serious problems with Michael Gove’s centralised free schools programme.

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“Instead of decisions made in Whitehall, we will restore a partnership between local and central government and end the practice that stops good local authorities setting up new schools. Whatever the type of school...we will put local communities and parents back in the driving seat.

“You know what Michael Gove really wants to do is introduce profit-making schools. Let me be crystal clear – I will never allow profit-making schools in this country.”

In his Labour Party conference address, Mr Twigg set out his vision of a ‘New Deal’ for teachers, while warning that a Labour Government would ensure “incompetent” teachers were removed from the profession in an effort to raise the overall status of the job.

Labour would also look at creating a National College for Teaching Excellence to boost in-job training – in the style of medical Royal Colleges.

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And Mr Twigg joined the chorus of senior Labour figures attacking the Government’s plans for regional pay deals in the public sector, warning the policy could result in teachers “in the toughest schools, in the toughest neighbourhoods” getting lower pay.

“I want to look at ideas like helping pay back your tuition fees, if you go to teach in a poorer area,” he said.