Hodge calms fears

Children’s minister Margaret Hodge has written to chief executives
and directors of social services stating there is no contradiction
between the children’s green paper agenda and school
standards.

Some fear the government emphasis on raising school standards could
undermine proposals in the green paper for schools to take a more
inclusive approach to teaching disadvantaged children.

Hodge said the co-ordinating principles in the government’s
five-year education strategy – personalisation, workforce
development, independence for front-line staff, partnerships and
opening up services to new providers – had already helped to
address concerns about a “possible tension” between the two
agendas.