Letters: For cost-effective education - letter from Cllr Mark Page

Published: 29 January 2010

I WRITE to clarify a number of issues on the council’s plans to improve education and boost aspirations for pupils (Cuts will hit our schools, January 15). 
In the first move of its kind in London, our education department will be restructured to move away from a traditional model where all services are delivered by the authority to one where it shares services with other boroughs and makes use of the commercial, voluntary and independent sectors.
The challenge for us, therefore, particularly in the current financial climate, is how we ensure that we keep delivering high-quality and cost-effective services to support pupils to achieve the best possible results.
This change is not about a cut to our schools budget. This change is about cutting bureaucracy and sharing resources more effectively.
As a local authority we pride ourselves on providing value for money for our taxpayers, so it is entirely right that we strive to become more efficient in delivering cost-effective education services.
We have accepted the findings of the education commission and are of course aware there are areas for improvement. 
However, it is important to put these findings in context as the commission also acknowledged much of the excellent work that goes on within Westminster and the fact that our schools have actually improved significantly in recent years, with last year’s pupils achieving their best GCSE results ever.
We have high ambitions for young people in Westminster and will be working with schools, teachers and parents to improve the life chances of children across the city. 

Cllr Mark Page 
Cabinet Member for Children and Young People