Swedish model 'will not boost education'

England already has more school choice for families than Sweden did

when it introduced its new system in the early 1990s, according to an article in the winter edition of CentrePiece from the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP).

Under the Swedish system, different non-profit and for-profit organisations are able to set up and run schools funded with public money, but independent from Government control.

Tory Shadow Schools Secretary Michael Gove is proposing to allow parents' groups, charities, trusts and voluntary groups to set up and operate schools, based on the Swedish model, which would be taxpayer-funded, not for profit and non-fee-paying, but independent from state control.

Tories argue that this system will give parents more choice and drive up standards across the system because of the element of competition it will create.

But the article argues that as there is already a choice of different types of school in England, the Swedish model would have little effect.

It says: "In the early 1990s, Sweden started from a position of no school choice: all pupils had to attend the state school in their neighbourhood. In the UK, however, there is already much school choice and a diversity of provision.

"The problem is that not all people in the UK are empowered to exercise choice because they do not have the money to move to an area with popular schools or the personal resources to access and understand information about school quality.

"Therein lies another challenge."