Welcome to Dean Associates' round-up of the top education stories in the UK.
Tuition fees to rise to £9000
Following Lord Browne's review of university tuition fees - currently capped at £3290 per year - the Government is set up to propose that universities can charge up to £9000 per year from 2012.
This will herald a transfer of university funding from "state to student" and is set against a backdrop of a £3 billion cut in the higher education teaching budget outlined in the Government's October 2010 Spending Review.
The Russell Group of leading universities described the decision as a "life-saving transfusion of money."
Many students, and some of the newer universities, view it as burdening the next generation with debt and another barrier for children of poorer families to make it into university.
Major school funding change proposed
The Government is looking to centralise the way in which funding for England's 20,000 state schools is allocated.
Local authorities have managed school budgets for over a century. The new form will give headteachers more authority to decide their priorities.
Proponents of the change state that it will even out inequalities. Currently, two schools in different parts of the country but with a similar social and economic intake can receive vastly different funding sums.
Critics - headed up by the main teachers' union and local authority representatives - say that centralisation will create more red tape and make the system insensitive to local needs.
Review of primary school exams
The Government has announced a review of primary school exams in England.
At present children sit SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) in English, Maths and Science in Years 2 and 6. The Year 6 results are published and are often used as a guide to a school's worth by parents.
Last year many schools boycotted the Year 6 SATs, insisting that too much teaching is aimed at prepping pupils for the exams rather than more productive education.
The review will focus on whether the SATs can be improved, yet still maintaining statistical basis to help benchmark childrens' attainment levels and to provide information on school performance to parents.
Under-performing schools to be turned into academies
The Government has announced that all under-performing schools should be turned into academies. He has asked councils to draw up "black lists" of the worst schools to place under consideration.
Academy schools were founded by the previous Labour administration, with autonomy from the local education authorities, and control over management and budget.
Welsh schools falling behind?
Research from the University of Bristol has concluded that Welsh secondary schools are performing worse since league tables were scrapped in 2001.
The end of "naming and shaming" the worst schools has taken away the incentive to improve performance, the study suggested.
It goes on to say that English children are now more likely to do well at GCSE in comparison to their English peers.
Basic skills failing in Northern Ireland?
There is growing concern in Northern Ireland that children are leaving school without basic literacy and numeracy skills.
It comes on the back of published statistics which highlighted that 60% of sign-ups for adult courses designed to provide basic maths and reading skills were from the 16-19 year group.
Nearly 40% of the Northern Irish workforce has no qualifications, as opposed to a UK-wide average of 19%.
Educators are wondering whether pupils show now stay in primary school until they have achieved these basic skills.
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Thursday, 14 October 2010
University fees - an update
In our October 2010 newsletter we highlighted Lord Browne's review of university fees in England.
The full report was published on 11th October and a handy executive summary can be downloaded here.
The coalition Government's initial response to this hottest of political potatoes is neatly summarised here.
There is a fair distance to run with this story. Government's like big reviews - remember Mike Tomlinson's innovative recommendations to secondary education in 2004 - but they tend to like their reforms with more than a splash of water.
The full report was published on 11th October and a handy executive summary can be downloaded here.
The coalition Government's initial response to this hottest of political potatoes is neatly summarised here.
There is a fair distance to run with this story. Government's like big reviews - remember Mike Tomlinson's innovative recommendations to secondary education in 2004 - but they tend to like their reforms with more than a splash of water.
Friday, 1 October 2010
Welcome to Dean Associates' October update, highlighting the important stories in education in the UK.
University tuition fees - what future?
On 11th October, Lord Browne is due to release his independent review of higher education and student finance.
Sources close to the report state that he is likely to recommend that the cap on English university tuition fees rises to between £6000 and £7000 per year. These fees are currently capped at £3225, a figure that universities see as unsustainable if England wants to maintain the quality of its higher education facilities.
An alternative idea - and one pushed heavily by the Liberal Democrat members of the Coalition government - is for a graduate tax: those who benefit from a university education paying once they start receiving a pay packet. Lord Brown is said to be unconvinced by this.
Those against a rise in tuition fees say that poorer families will be unable to afford higher education.
The first "free schools"
The Coalition government has recently announced that 16 new, "free" schools have been given the go-ahead to open.
Free schools are central to Government policy, allowing parents, teachers, charities and other voluntary bodies to establish a school independent from the local education authority and with direct funding from central government.
The Coalition's hope is that this will provide greater choice for parents, quoting similar schemes in the US and Sweden as examples.
However, many commentators are concerned that half of the 16 free schools will be linked to a "faith" and may operate admissions policies based on religious affiliation, closing the door on families who are not religious.
Proper perspective will only come after a year, when it will be clearer if the concept of free schools are popular and whether the initial concerns are valid.
Surrey explores turning all secondary schools into academies
An update on our September newsletter regarding the Coalition's Academy programme.
Gaining an Academy status allows the school to operate in a similar way to a free school, independent of the local education authority and with direct funding. The government has recently invited all schools to become academies.
Surrey County Council is contemplating changing all 53 of its secondary schools into Academies in one move.
This could have positive consequences for many companies and families that operate in the Surrey area. State education in Surrey is broadly of good standard but it can be hard for relocating parents to obtain places in the better secondary schools. The change to Academies could lead to admission policies being less bureaucratic and more flexible to the needs of mobile families.
New admissions codes for primary and secondary schools
The Coalition has announced that state schools may be offered additional central funding if they allocate places in the admissions round to families eligible for free school meals.
Reformers hope that poorer families will gain the opportunity to land places in state schools that are situated in predominantly middle class areas and where affordable housing is not always available.
Not special needs. Better teaching
Ofsted has accused many schools of labelling children as having "special educational needs" (SEN) when the balance of fault lies with poor day-to-day teaching or parenting.
Ofsted’s report states that half of the 916,000 children on the “school action” register - the first stage of support - should not have been identified as having special needs. Inspectors say effective identification of SEN and good-quality extra help in schools is “not common” and this results in children developing needless problems.
The National Union of Teachers has accused Ofsted of being "insulting and wrong" saying that teachers are "scapegoats" for implementing government policy.
Currently 1 in 5 pupils in England - 1.7 million children in total - are diagnosed with some type of SEN.
New review of vocational qualifications
An independent review of vocational qualifications for 14 to 19 year-olds is to be undertaken by Professor Alison Wolf of King's College, London.
Current qualifications include BTECs and City and Guilds, as well as the new "Diplomas" that the Labour government founded.
However, there continues to a perception that vocational qualifications are "second best" to academic ones and that children who are not suited to academic learning are not being given effective options.
University tuition fees - what future?
On 11th October, Lord Browne is due to release his independent review of higher education and student finance.
Sources close to the report state that he is likely to recommend that the cap on English university tuition fees rises to between £6000 and £7000 per year. These fees are currently capped at £3225, a figure that universities see as unsustainable if England wants to maintain the quality of its higher education facilities.
An alternative idea - and one pushed heavily by the Liberal Democrat members of the Coalition government - is for a graduate tax: those who benefit from a university education paying once they start receiving a pay packet. Lord Brown is said to be unconvinced by this.
Those against a rise in tuition fees say that poorer families will be unable to afford higher education.
The first "free schools"
The Coalition government has recently announced that 16 new, "free" schools have been given the go-ahead to open.
Free schools are central to Government policy, allowing parents, teachers, charities and other voluntary bodies to establish a school independent from the local education authority and with direct funding from central government.
The Coalition's hope is that this will provide greater choice for parents, quoting similar schemes in the US and Sweden as examples.
However, many commentators are concerned that half of the 16 free schools will be linked to a "faith" and may operate admissions policies based on religious affiliation, closing the door on families who are not religious.
Proper perspective will only come after a year, when it will be clearer if the concept of free schools are popular and whether the initial concerns are valid.
Surrey explores turning all secondary schools into academies
An update on our September newsletter regarding the Coalition's Academy programme.
Gaining an Academy status allows the school to operate in a similar way to a free school, independent of the local education authority and with direct funding. The government has recently invited all schools to become academies.
Surrey County Council is contemplating changing all 53 of its secondary schools into Academies in one move.
This could have positive consequences for many companies and families that operate in the Surrey area. State education in Surrey is broadly of good standard but it can be hard for relocating parents to obtain places in the better secondary schools. The change to Academies could lead to admission policies being less bureaucratic and more flexible to the needs of mobile families.
New admissions codes for primary and secondary schools
The Coalition has announced that state schools may be offered additional central funding if they allocate places in the admissions round to families eligible for free school meals.
Reformers hope that poorer families will gain the opportunity to land places in state schools that are situated in predominantly middle class areas and where affordable housing is not always available.
Not special needs. Better teaching
Ofsted has accused many schools of labelling children as having "special educational needs" (SEN) when the balance of fault lies with poor day-to-day teaching or parenting.
Ofsted’s report states that half of the 916,000 children on the “school action” register - the first stage of support - should not have been identified as having special needs. Inspectors say effective identification of SEN and good-quality extra help in schools is “not common” and this results in children developing needless problems.
The National Union of Teachers has accused Ofsted of being "insulting and wrong" saying that teachers are "scapegoats" for implementing government policy.
Currently 1 in 5 pupils in England - 1.7 million children in total - are diagnosed with some type of SEN.
New review of vocational qualifications
An independent review of vocational qualifications for 14 to 19 year-olds is to be undertaken by Professor Alison Wolf of King's College, London.
Current qualifications include BTECs and City and Guilds, as well as the new "Diplomas" that the Labour government founded.
However, there continues to a perception that vocational qualifications are "second best" to academic ones and that children who are not suited to academic learning are not being given effective options.
Friday, 3 September 2010
Autumn 2010 Education Update
Welcome to Dean Associates Autumn 2010 education update.
Welcome to Dean Associates' regular update on the important education stories for relocating families.
We are now in for a period of change in UK education as the Coalition Government aims to introduce a number of new education policies over the following months. This, combined with budget cuts that will inevitably work their way into education, could usher in some challenging times for relocating parents.
Shortage of state school places
England is facing an acute shortage of school places, with more than one in ten pupils in schools suffering overcrowding.
The causes are said to be a new baby-boom generation reaching school age, and increased immigration. London is the worst affected area, with many boroughs putting up temporary structures to house the demand for school places.
To make matters worse, the Government, as part of its budget cutting, has put a stop to many new school building projects. However the roots of this problem lie deeper, with the previous Labour administration unwilling or unable to act on the issue.
For families moving into England, especially London, finding state schools places has always been difficult and in the near future is going to get worse. Parents will need guidance as to best strategies to employ, and to be flexible on housing location.
Academies - a muted take-off
One flagship educational reform of the Government has seen a limited initial take-up. Schools have been offered the right to become Academies with immediate effect. Academies are independent state schools that receive direct funding, removing them from council control. The government hopes that this independence will help drive up standards.
However, only 32 schools have so far become academies. This has included, for the first time, seven primary schools.
The Government has blamed the weight of paperwork that needed completion in a short-time frame. Opposition groups see it as a rejection of the initiative. A more balanced view may well need to wait to see what the take-up is for the 2012 school year.
What else is on the horizon?
Other Coalition plans include the introduction of so-called "free" schools, where parent groups or charities can set up and run their own schools, taking direct funding from the Government. There may be further reform of the exam and qualifications system and the need for more rigorous teaching qualifications.
We will keep you updated with developments.
Modest rise in school fees
Dean Associates' annual survey of independent school fees showed a modest rise of just over 3% on 2009/2010 levels. This was a higher leap than the previous year but shows that the schools are still responding to the tightening economic circumstances.
Independent schools may also still be nervous about ongoing review of their charitable status - which provides substantial tax breaks - and how far they fulfil the role of charities.
Has the new A* made the grade?
The recently released A Level results heralded the first arrival of the new A* grade.
This was in introduced by the previous Labour Government to help universities and employers identify candidates who were performing at the very top of the ability range.
8% of pupils achieved the A*, whilst 27% achieved the A grade. The overall pass rate (all grades A*-E) rose to 97.6%, a new record.
Not all universities have recognised the new A*. Some see it as socially divisive with more A* grades expected in the independent, fee-paying sector. Others feel that it is not necessarily the best way to identify the best students.
There are still a number of alternative qualifications available, including the International Baccalaureate, the Pre-U and Diplomas.
University becomes more competitive
Entry to university in the UK is likely to remain extremely competitive over the coming years.
There was an 11% rise in university applications in 2010, and though the government did fund and increase in the number of places available, budget cuts has meant that this rise did not keep pace with demand.
The rise in applications has been put down to a number of factors. On the positive side, universities are receiving more applications from the state school sector as greater efforts are made to engage families from poorer backgrounds.
However the recession has also played a part, with more mature students applying when faced with a difficult job market.
Given the competition, early planning for university choices is essential. This runs back to what choices are taken GCSE level, how to make an effective UCAS application, and how to supplement the application with other activities, academic, professional and extra-curricular.
Council delays - a warning
Many councils have now taken over the management of primary and secondary school admissions, running the process centrally them rather than the schools dealing with their own admissions.
This has led to a number of families experiencing very long delays in getting a response from applications. There seems to be some confusion in how the process works and the councils have become jammed with too many applications and too few staff to handle them.
It may well be that in many popular areas for relocation - in the south-east and London - this back-log will last until Christmas.
Welcome to Dean Associates' regular update on the important education stories for relocating families.
We are now in for a period of change in UK education as the Coalition Government aims to introduce a number of new education policies over the following months. This, combined with budget cuts that will inevitably work their way into education, could usher in some challenging times for relocating parents.
Shortage of state school places
England is facing an acute shortage of school places, with more than one in ten pupils in schools suffering overcrowding.
The causes are said to be a new baby-boom generation reaching school age, and increased immigration. London is the worst affected area, with many boroughs putting up temporary structures to house the demand for school places.
To make matters worse, the Government, as part of its budget cutting, has put a stop to many new school building projects. However the roots of this problem lie deeper, with the previous Labour administration unwilling or unable to act on the issue.
For families moving into England, especially London, finding state schools places has always been difficult and in the near future is going to get worse. Parents will need guidance as to best strategies to employ, and to be flexible on housing location.
Academies - a muted take-off
One flagship educational reform of the Government has seen a limited initial take-up. Schools have been offered the right to become Academies with immediate effect. Academies are independent state schools that receive direct funding, removing them from council control. The government hopes that this independence will help drive up standards.
However, only 32 schools have so far become academies. This has included, for the first time, seven primary schools.
The Government has blamed the weight of paperwork that needed completion in a short-time frame. Opposition groups see it as a rejection of the initiative. A more balanced view may well need to wait to see what the take-up is for the 2012 school year.
What else is on the horizon?
Other Coalition plans include the introduction of so-called "free" schools, where parent groups or charities can set up and run their own schools, taking direct funding from the Government. There may be further reform of the exam and qualifications system and the need for more rigorous teaching qualifications.
We will keep you updated with developments.
Modest rise in school fees
Dean Associates' annual survey of independent school fees showed a modest rise of just over 3% on 2009/2010 levels. This was a higher leap than the previous year but shows that the schools are still responding to the tightening economic circumstances.
Independent schools may also still be nervous about ongoing review of their charitable status - which provides substantial tax breaks - and how far they fulfil the role of charities.
Has the new A* made the grade?
The recently released A Level results heralded the first arrival of the new A* grade.
This was in introduced by the previous Labour Government to help universities and employers identify candidates who were performing at the very top of the ability range.
8% of pupils achieved the A*, whilst 27% achieved the A grade. The overall pass rate (all grades A*-E) rose to 97.6%, a new record.
Not all universities have recognised the new A*. Some see it as socially divisive with more A* grades expected in the independent, fee-paying sector. Others feel that it is not necessarily the best way to identify the best students.
There are still a number of alternative qualifications available, including the International Baccalaureate, the Pre-U and Diplomas.
University becomes more competitive
Entry to university in the UK is likely to remain extremely competitive over the coming years.
There was an 11% rise in university applications in 2010, and though the government did fund and increase in the number of places available, budget cuts has meant that this rise did not keep pace with demand.
The rise in applications has been put down to a number of factors. On the positive side, universities are receiving more applications from the state school sector as greater efforts are made to engage families from poorer backgrounds.
However the recession has also played a part, with more mature students applying when faced with a difficult job market.
Given the competition, early planning for university choices is essential. This runs back to what choices are taken GCSE level, how to make an effective UCAS application, and how to supplement the application with other activities, academic, professional and extra-curricular.
Council delays - a warning
Many councils have now taken over the management of primary and secondary school admissions, running the process centrally them rather than the schools dealing with their own admissions.
This has led to a number of families experiencing very long delays in getting a response from applications. There seems to be some confusion in how the process works and the councils have become jammed with too many applications and too few staff to handle them.
It may well be that in many popular areas for relocation - in the south-east and London - this back-log will last until Christmas.
Friday, 5 March 2010
Welcome to Dean Associates's March newsletter, with an update of the leading stories in UK education.
Conservatives to expand academies if they win power
With the polls narrowing, the Conservative party is starting to put some flesh on the bones of its education policy.
A recent announcement has promised that they will look to push for hundreds of new schools to become "academies" by removing the need for consent from the local council.
The current government brought in the academy programme, allowing secondary schools autonomy in management although still receiving state funding. Businesses, charities and universities have all been involved in backing academies across England.
The Association of School and College Leaders has accused the Tories of wanting to create "corner-shop" that will fragment the schooling market and leave the poorest struggling.
793,000 school places available
Official figures published last week have shown that there are 793,000 empty seats in secondary and primary schools across England.
Critics of the government have stated that this is an indication of the uneven quality of the state school system that turns many parents from their local schools. The Labour party insists that it is working hard to bring down the surplus places, recognising that they are a waste of resources in tightening times.
The end to free Scottish university tuition?
The Scottish government has indicated that the introduction of tuition fees may well be a possibility in the future.
The Scottish education secretary has stated that university tuition fees will not be introduced during the current administration. However, it was admitted that university funding would come under pressure in the next few years and that there would need to be a review of this position.
In England and Wales, a full review of tuition fees - currently £3240 - is being undertaken by Lord Browne. Findings will be published later this year.
Currently, university education is free to all Scottish students who meet the eligibility criteria.
Class sizes on the up?
One in eight primary school children is being taught in a class with more than 30 pupils and over 200 primary schools in the UK regularly teach children classes of more than 40.
Although the government introduced legislation in 1997 to limit the size of infant classes - Reception through to Year 2 - class sizes have been creeping upwards since 2000.
It is generally agreed that large class sizes make it harder for teachers to keep order and also allows less support for weaker pupils.
Government diplomas too easy
The new diploma qualification - introduced by the government to meld academic and vocational work - is not stretching the brightest pupils.
There are 14 diploma subjects currently available - for example, engineering, creative and media studies and IT - and they are intended to be an alternative to A Levels for 16 to 18 years olds.
Recently, a study revealed that a student applying to a university with a diploma would need an additional qualification - for example an A Level - to make them competitive.
Childcare vouchers reprieved
A happy ending for a previous story. The government has dropped plans to phase out tax relief on childcare vouchers for working parents. Instead, the Government will allow tax relief on all basic rate tax, only removing the ability to claim on higher rate tax.
The vouchers offer parents substantial savings on the cost of childcare by allowing them to exchange part of their gross salary for the vouchers. The exchanged salary is exempt of income tax and national insurance. The move to basic rate tax means that parents will save just over 30% on the first £240 spent on childcare each month.
Conservatives to expand academies if they win power
With the polls narrowing, the Conservative party is starting to put some flesh on the bones of its education policy.
A recent announcement has promised that they will look to push for hundreds of new schools to become "academies" by removing the need for consent from the local council.
The current government brought in the academy programme, allowing secondary schools autonomy in management although still receiving state funding. Businesses, charities and universities have all been involved in backing academies across England.
The Association of School and College Leaders has accused the Tories of wanting to create "corner-shop" that will fragment the schooling market and leave the poorest struggling.
793,000 school places available
Official figures published last week have shown that there are 793,000 empty seats in secondary and primary schools across England.
Critics of the government have stated that this is an indication of the uneven quality of the state school system that turns many parents from their local schools. The Labour party insists that it is working hard to bring down the surplus places, recognising that they are a waste of resources in tightening times.
The end to free Scottish university tuition?
The Scottish government has indicated that the introduction of tuition fees may well be a possibility in the future.
The Scottish education secretary has stated that university tuition fees will not be introduced during the current administration. However, it was admitted that university funding would come under pressure in the next few years and that there would need to be a review of this position.
In England and Wales, a full review of tuition fees - currently £3240 - is being undertaken by Lord Browne. Findings will be published later this year.
Currently, university education is free to all Scottish students who meet the eligibility criteria.
Class sizes on the up?
One in eight primary school children is being taught in a class with more than 30 pupils and over 200 primary schools in the UK regularly teach children classes of more than 40.
Although the government introduced legislation in 1997 to limit the size of infant classes - Reception through to Year 2 - class sizes have been creeping upwards since 2000.
It is generally agreed that large class sizes make it harder for teachers to keep order and also allows less support for weaker pupils.
Government diplomas too easy
The new diploma qualification - introduced by the government to meld academic and vocational work - is not stretching the brightest pupils.
There are 14 diploma subjects currently available - for example, engineering, creative and media studies and IT - and they are intended to be an alternative to A Levels for 16 to 18 years olds.
Recently, a study revealed that a student applying to a university with a diploma would need an additional qualification - for example an A Level - to make them competitive.
Childcare vouchers reprieved
A happy ending for a previous story. The government has dropped plans to phase out tax relief on childcare vouchers for working parents. Instead, the Government will allow tax relief on all basic rate tax, only removing the ability to claim on higher rate tax.
The vouchers offer parents substantial savings on the cost of childcare by allowing them to exchange part of their gross salary for the vouchers. The exchanged salary is exempt of income tax and national insurance. The move to basic rate tax means that parents will save just over 30% on the first £240 spent on childcare each month.
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
January 2010: Education news
Welcome to Dean Associates' Winter briefing on the leading education stories affecting relocating families and companies.
Applications soar for primary school places.
Education authorites in cities and towns across the UK have warned about the rise in applications for state primary school places.
A baby boom, migration levels and the recession forcing parents to pull back from private schools are being blamed.
Many councils are taking emergency measures to create "bulge" classes in community schools. However, this may mean that places for relocating families are going to be harder to come by in the state sector.
Universities facing "meltdown."
The Russell Group - the voice of the UK's leading universities - has warned that government cuts to higher education will downgrade the current "gold" standard of th UK's higher education to one of "bronze or worse."
The universities warn of courses being closed, academic staff slashed and an increase in class size. They argue that higher education in France and Germany is seeing a rise in state funding.
There was a record university intake in 2009 leading to greater competition for places. Preliminary figures showed applications up a further 12% this year.
With the size of the national deficit cuts do seem inevitable. What also seems set in stone is that the review of higher education funding will back an increase in tuition fees from the current cap of £3250 per year.
The case for "free" schools.
There has been much media debate over English schools copying the Swedish "free" school model.
This allows parents to "claim" the money that the education authority would spend on schooling their child and invest it in an independent school, or, potentially, club together with other parents to set up their own schools.
Effectively this would be independent schooling funded by the state. Although the education authority would impose rules on allowing equal access to such schools, control over management and curriculum would reside in the hands of the parents.
As yet, none of the political parties have backed the concept formally. The government says that its academy programme allows for external institutions - for example businesses, charities or universities - to run schools. However, the financial barrier of establishing, building and running a school is too high for most parents to climb over.
1 in 10 English secondaries schools "failing"
Recently published GCSE results for English schools have shown that 1 in 10 schools have not reached the acceptable "benchmark" figure of 30% of pupils achieving 5 or more A-C grades including English and Maths.
The government threatens to close schools that are unable to bring their results up to this level. In 2009 49% of pupils reached the acceptable level.
Applications soar for primary school places.
Education authorites in cities and towns across the UK have warned about the rise in applications for state primary school places.
A baby boom, migration levels and the recession forcing parents to pull back from private schools are being blamed.
Many councils are taking emergency measures to create "bulge" classes in community schools. However, this may mean that places for relocating families are going to be harder to come by in the state sector.
Universities facing "meltdown."
The Russell Group - the voice of the UK's leading universities - has warned that government cuts to higher education will downgrade the current "gold" standard of th UK's higher education to one of "bronze or worse."
The universities warn of courses being closed, academic staff slashed and an increase in class size. They argue that higher education in France and Germany is seeing a rise in state funding.
There was a record university intake in 2009 leading to greater competition for places. Preliminary figures showed applications up a further 12% this year.
With the size of the national deficit cuts do seem inevitable. What also seems set in stone is that the review of higher education funding will back an increase in tuition fees from the current cap of £3250 per year.
The case for "free" schools.
There has been much media debate over English schools copying the Swedish "free" school model.
This allows parents to "claim" the money that the education authority would spend on schooling their child and invest it in an independent school, or, potentially, club together with other parents to set up their own schools.
Effectively this would be independent schooling funded by the state. Although the education authority would impose rules on allowing equal access to such schools, control over management and curriculum would reside in the hands of the parents.
As yet, none of the political parties have backed the concept formally. The government says that its academy programme allows for external institutions - for example businesses, charities or universities - to run schools. However, the financial barrier of establishing, building and running a school is too high for most parents to climb over.
1 in 10 English secondaries schools "failing"
Recently published GCSE results for English schools have shown that 1 in 10 schools have not reached the acceptable "benchmark" figure of 30% of pupils achieving 5 or more A-C grades including English and Maths.
The government threatens to close schools that are unable to bring their results up to this level. In 2009 49% of pupils reached the acceptable level.
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