Three-tier schools shake-up in doubt

May 14 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal

A REVIEW is to be carried out into the future of Northumberland’s massive schools reform programme following a major shake-up of the county’s political power base.

The multi-million pound Putting the Learner First (PLF) project is to be re-examined in a move which opens up the possibility of three-tier education remaining in some parts of the county.

Plans are already well advanced to sweep away existing middle schools and introduce two-tier education in Cramlington, Blyth and Ashington – but the future of PLF in other areas of the county will now come under fresh scrutiny.

Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, who between them now hold 43 of the 67 seats on the new county council following the recent elections, have both pledged to conduct an early review of the whole programme.

The review is likely to examine whether PLF remains affordable and whether it is the best options for all areas of the county and their different educational needs and aspirations.

The radical reform programme was approved by the Labour-led county council in June 2004, despite about 35,000 people signing petitions organised by parents’ groups opposed to the axeing of 44 middle schools.

But Labour’s dramatic removal from power at the recent elections for the new unitary Northumberland Council has opened the way for a fresh look at PLF.

Coun Jeff Reid, leader of the 26-strong Lib-Dem group on the county council, said: “What’s done is done and we can’t go back and change things in Cramlington and Blyth, because that would be unfair and unnecessary.

“However, we need to have a review of where PLF goes from here.

“It is possible that we could have two different systems operating in different parts of the county, because there are precedents for it.”

Conservative group leader Coun Peter Jackson added: “We have been critical of this right from the start and have always said that a one-size-fits-all policy isn’t right for education in Northumberland.

“What is needed in certain areas isn’t right for others.

“Each school partnership needs to have its own review of PLF so that local communities can be consulted.

“We have got to get away from this idea that it is all about buildings and structures, because it should be about young people and what is best for them.

“We also need to get away from the two-tier, three-tier argument and look at the education of young people as a whole.”

Joe Ronan, of Hexham, who chairs the Northumberland Education Action Group which campaigned against the abolition of middle schools, yesterday welcomed a review of PLF.

He said: “There is a lot of evidence that three-tier delivers effective and positive education in many parts of the county.

“We feel there is a case in areas like the rural west for middle schools to remain.”