Scottish Labour’s Education spokesman Des McNulty today responded to Conservative proposals to create Trust Schools in Scotland.
 
Mr McNulty said:
 
"Labour is open to new ideas about improving Scottish Education - we support innovation by teachers and giving head-teachers greater control over school budgets. There should be more diversity within the system and we will bring forward our ideas later in the year after we have had further discussions with key groups including the education profession and local authorities. 
 
"We differ from the Conservatives in our support for comprehensive education - schools should serve their communities and be linked to other services, they should encourage every child to achieve to the best of their ability and not be sources of social division. The Conservatives say they are against selection but abandoning school catchments could affect the rights of parents to send their child to the local school. 
 
"The debate about the management of schools in Scotland has been distorted by the mismanagement of our education system by the SNP. Their flawed concordat has removed resources from schools, leading to the loss of teaching and support staff jobs, reductions in school budgets and the growing turmoil over the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence. 
 
"Where other parts of the public sector are being encouraged to work together to deliver better value for money, the Conservatives want individual schools to establish their own individual support services. It doesn't make sense - and pupils who need the most support will lose out 
 
"Labour does not favour ripping up existing arrangements, potentially affecting links between primary and secondary schools and staff conditions of service. Any change needs to be gradual and should follow extensive discussion with those best placed to properly assess the pros and cons." 

9 March 2010