"One Man Band" is out of tune, say Wokingham Liberal Democrats (Wokingham Liberal Democrats)

Wokingham Liberal Democrats <info@wokinghamlibdems.org.uk>

"One Man Band" is out of tune, say Wokingham Liberal Democrats

February 16, 2006 12:00 AM

Beth Rowland (Lib Dem Education Spokesperson at Wokingham District Council) says "After Frank Browne (Conservative Leader of the Council) took over sole responsibility for the District's schools, he has been a one man band out of tune with students' needs.

"Frank Browne sacked Tim Charlesworth, his Executive member for Education, last May and took over this responsibility himself. Hhhe has so far achieved a fall in the District's GCSE results A* - C grades. This fall in education standards has resulted in Wokingham schools dropping down the league tables from 8th place last year to 28th this year.

"He has also presided over the collapse of his much-heralded "Vision for Education" after he was forced to perform a U-turn over relocating Emmbrook School following a massive protest by Emmbrook residents. This together with the serious underestimate of the cost of replacing Addington Special School, with 40% of pupils being housed in temporary classrooms, is a disaster for education in Wokingham."

Councillor Coling Lawley (Leader of the Lib Dem opposition at Wokingham District Council) agrees with Beth Rowland and is also critical of the loss of top education officers from the Education Authority. He said, "The District's top Education officer (Jackie Harrop) left the Council before Christmas and we are still waiting to hear what Frank Browne intends to do about her replacement. He needs to take urgent stock of the situation and put in place the proper expertise necessary to draw up a new education vision.

"This time the emphasis needs to be on facts and meaningful consultation. It is time that Frank Browne ceased to be a one man band and got in tune with the residents. The longer this drift in education standards is allowed to continue the more difficult it will be to turn back the tide.

"Our schoolchildren's education must come first."