Education commission must show its ‘independence’

Published: 26th May, 2011

• WE were pleased to attend the launch of Camden’s independent Education Commission at Acland Burghley school and to see so many people with a stake in education in Camden at this event.

Camden has been extremely fortunate to secure the services of former chief inspector of schools Sir Mike Tomlinson as chair of the commission, and of Professor Geoff Whitty, director of the University of London’s Institute of Education until last year, as one of its three members.

However, the third member of the “independent” commission is former Labour Camden cabinet member for children, schools and families Geethika Jayatilaka, who went on to be a highly partisan chair of Camden’s children, schools and families scrutiny committee in the early days of the Lib Dem-Conservative administration that ran the borough from 2006 to 2010. 

The current Labour administration’s attempts to portray Ms Jayatilaka simply as a well-informed local parent are disingenuous to say the least and her appointment will inevitably call the genuine independence of the commission into question. 

The commission also finds itself in the embarrassing position of two of its key sponsors, ex-deputy council leader Angela Mason and ex-cabinet member for children, schools and families Heather Johnson, having been voted off Camden’s ruling cabinet since its establishment was announced.

Despite these concerns, we firmly believe the commission has important work to do, and Camden Lib Dems will be making a formal submission which will cover issues including the critical transition from primary to secondary schools, the role of early years, the 14-19 agenda, further education colleges, and the role of schools in the local community and the use by the local community of school facilities. We will also be asking the commission to study the impact of the Pupil Premium in our schools – a policy that has been generally welcomed in the education community for targeting resources at children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The part to be played by academies and free schools in Camden will clearly be one of the main and most controversial topics to be covered by the commission – and in our submission – and the commission’s “independence” will be tested on this issue in particular.

If the work of the commission is to have any real impact, it must demonstrate that it is not being hijacked as a vehicle for attacking central government education policy and that it intends to work in a genuinely independent way to find solutions for the educational challenges facing our borough.
Cllr Keith Moffitt
Leader of the Opposition

Cllr Tom Simon
Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet 
Member for Schools