Government hints at concessions after schools reform revolt: (22/01/06)
PA News
Published:
22 January 2006
The Government today hinted a possible concessions over Tony Blair's controversial schools reforms, amid a growing Labour revolt.
Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson, who was put up to speak on the issue, said that ministers wanted to open a "dialogue" with their critics.
However he made clear that the Government was not prepared to compromise on the fundamental principles set out by Education Secretary Ruth Kelly in the schools white paper.
His intervention came after former Labour leader Neil Kinnock and former education secretary Estelle Morris last week threw their weight behind the revolt which has the backing of more than 90 MPs.
"Their particular concerns have to be addressed and we have to talk it through," Mr Johnson, a former education minister, told ITV1's Jonathan Dimbleby programme.
"When I became higher education minister there had been a white paper published on university education for five months and people were digging trenches all over the place,
"The dialogue and the discussion meant that we did make changes. We made changes that didn't interfere with the principles behind the white paper. I am sure with the right dialogue here we can do the same."
However he rejected a leaked proposal by the Commons Education Committee for all schools to be required to take a quota of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
"I think it would defeat the objective. I can't see that being the solution," he said.
He insisted that the changes in the white paper - intended to give greater independence to secondary schools - would not mean a return to academic selection, one of the key concerns of the rebels.
While he acknowledged that the role of local education authorities would change - another concern of the critics - he said that it would not be "diminished".
