MPs seek white paper changes

Further wrangling over proposals in the schools white paper is expected before the publication of the education bill, a meeting in Westminster was told last week.

Labour MP David Chaytor said government revisions to the white paper earlier this month had failed to satisfy some MPs.

“There will be further expressions of dissent and we do bet on more wrangling to try to get more changes,” he said.

At an event organised by the Association of Professionals in Education and Children’s Trusts, Chaytor said the government’s manifesto had focused on making parent power a major force in schools, but that the white paper concentrated more on new providers coming into the system.

He also said there was a contradiction between the government’s aim to increase parent power and plans to make local authorities seek permission from the education secretary to bid to set up a community school if parents wanted it.