Parents want local authority-run schools
Catherine Gaunt
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Most people want state schools to continue to be funded and run by the Government and local authorities, a survey by teaching union NASUWT and public sector union Unison has found.
Only 4 per cent of people polled by IPSOS MORI agreed with proposals to have private companies running maintained schools and want schools to be run by the local authority in preference to any other provider, including charities, universities, private companies and parents.
The survey also found very limited support for Tory plans to set up 'free schools', state-funded but run by a group of parents.
NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said that all politcal parties had 'dabbled to a greater or lesser degree with placing schools in the hands of private providers' and the poll clearly showed they had 'misjudged the public mood'.
Unison general secretary Dave Prentis, said, 'Perhaps instead of looking to Sweden or the USA for inspiration, or listening to a London-centric middle class, politicians should start listening to the vast majority of parents.'
