MP's concern over specialist schools

WEALDEN MP Charles Hendry has expressed concern about Government plans for a significant increase in the number of specialist schools across Britain.

Mr Hendry was talking in response to Government plans for schools, set out in its Education White Paper this week.

The Conservative MP said an increase in specialisation would be unrealistic for towns such as Uckfield and Crowborough.

Mr Hendry said: There is a danger of moving towards too much specialisation. The towns in Wealden are only of a size to have one secondary school, so they must cater for all the students from the area. They should not suggest that they are more suited to some skills than another.

Too much specialisation will lead parents to think they should send their children to schools further away if their more local school has specialised in a subject which they are not best suited to. Of course, steps must be taken to drive up standards, but only if that can be done in a way that is genuinely inclusive for all the people who use each school.

These plans are okay for an area such as Brighton, where there are a number of secondary school. But in an area like Uckfield or Crowborough where there s only one school it s unrealistic for parents to send their child to a school which is very specialised.

Mr Hendry stressed that he was not opposed to HCC s bid for Arts College status, adding that the college did a brilliant job.

He said: I haven t got a problem with how far it has gone so far but schools are going to be pushed into it because of the extra money they will get. I am concerned that they will be pushed into ever more specialisation.