Schools shake-up - Nadine calls for referendum
Mid Beds MP will speak in Parliament next week
The future of Bedford's schools set-up will be discussed in Parliament next week, when Nadine Dorries MP will call for a local referendum on the issue.
Ms Dorries, Conservative member for Mid Bedfordshire has secured an adjournment debate for Monday evening, where she will quiz schools minister Ian Wright.
She said: "I want reassurances from the minister that there is no pressure from the government, financially or culturally, to convert to a two-tier schools system.
"I will also be bringing up points which people have used, wrongly, to call for a change to the education system. I want to show that government funding does not depend on changing our schools, and to challenge the idea that children in threetier systems are disadvantaged.
"I will want reassurances that if such a change is to be made we should have a referendum on the issue.
"It would be a huge change, with huge consequences and lasting affects – the mayor wasn't elected with this in his manifesto, none of the parties were elected with this in their manifesto, so none of them should be able to decide without asking the people what they want."
Bedford Borough Council is currently consulting on plans to switch its schools system from three to two tiers.
Unlike most of the country, children in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire currently change schools twice, aged nine and 13.
The most common system nationally is for children to change schools once, at age 11.
Ms Dorries added: "I have always been a three-tier person. What you see in Beds is good – small is good.
"I love lower and middle schools, and the care that children receive there.
"Yes, there are problems, but for too long the approach has been 'Well, we'll ignore this for now, as we will change to twotier soon'.
"We have a three-tier system and if everybody got behind it I am sure whatever issues we have can be addressed very easily."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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