Nick CleggÔÇÖs criticisms of the controversial issue of Free Schools have infuriated the Conservatives leading to yet more tension in the coalition. This scheme, strongly supported by the Tories, was implemented by education secretary Michael Gove in 2011. It sought to establish schools, founded by teachers or groups that are state funded but operate outside the remit of the local authority. Since the policiesÔÇÖ inception more than 170 such schools have opened across England.
Clegg attacked the new schools over their reported use of unqualified teachers and also stated that he would like to see the national curriculum imposed on the academies. This demand does seem a little strange as it would render the free schools hardly different from their more conventional counterparts at all. Moreover the attacks seem unwarranted when you consider the results of the first Ofsted inspection into free schools. It concluded that the 24 original free schools were outperforming the rest of the country. Not every school has been successful however, the Derby-based Muslim free school, Al Madinah, was branded ÔÇ£in chaosÔÇØ and ÔÇ£dysfunctionalÔÇØ by a recent Ofsted report. One failing school however, cannot be used as justification for removal of powers from the whole institution. There are failing schools no matter what system of governance they are placed under.
Not only are these comments further signs of disharmony in the coalition, this issue has also led to rumours that CleggÔÇÖs stance has split his own party. Conservatives are convinced that the Lib Dem Schools minster, David Laws, has not been made aware of the content of a wider speech on the issue Clegg is due to give on Thursday. Laws has robustly supported free schools in the past. In a 2009 speech, he called for the national curriculum to be ÔÇ£scaled backÔÇØ and argued that schools should be given ÔÇ£much more control over what they teach to children.ÔÇØ
The Lib Dems have refuted this claim powerfully, countering that it would be unthinkable for such a close ally of the deputy prime minister to be unaware of the contents of a speech so relevant to his work. Whether or not this is the case, Laws has still been placed in a very difficult position by his leader.
Labour have also been criticised over their stance on this issue. The main source of criticism comes from their inability to reach a consistent position on the matter. Toby Young, author of 2001 best seller ÔÇ£How to Lose Friends & Alienate people,ÔÇØ attacked the party over their ÔÇ£almost weekly U-turnsÔÇØ with regards to the issue. Labour, he joked, ÔÇ£has more positions on free schools than the Kama Sutra.ÔÇØ This constant shifting is epitomised by the actions of Tristam Hunt, the new Shadow Education Secretary. Two weeks ago, Hunt stated in an interview that ÔÇ£We are not going to go back to the old days of the local authority running schools.ÔÇØ Two days later however he branded free schools a ÔÇ£dangerous ideological experiment.ÔÇØ
Clegg met David Cameron for lunch recently to discuss his actions in disowning a flagship coalition policy. However in CleggÔÇÖs address on Thursday he is expected to attack Michael Gove for putting ÔÇ£ideology before childrenÔÇÖs education.ÔÇØ This jibe will hardly sit well with senior Tory figures and will almost certainly undo anything his meeting with Cameron was able to achieve. This infighting is likely to become more regular and bitter as the 2015 election looms ever nearer. Both parties will undoubtedly seek to highlight their differences so they can present distinctive manifestos to secure more parliamentary seats.
Matthew Hale
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