9 March 2006
The government has been spreading the word about its Education and Inspections Bill this week with a series of seminars hosted in Number 10.
Blue chip firms, schools, LEAs and faith organisations visited Downing Street to talk about the issues surrounding the Bill, which was published last week.
Under the proposals - which MPs will vote on soon - private companies, faith groups and parents will gain the freedom to run not-for-profit "trust schools" within the state system.
Local Education Authorities will be able to deal more effectively with failing schools.
And fairer admission policies will see schools banned from interviewing prospective pupils and parents.
At one of the seminars, four organisations - Mercers Company, Microsoft, Edge and KPMG - explained why they were interested in getting involved with charitable trusts.
Stephen Uden of Microsoft said:
"People in business gain from going out and putting time back, spending time in their local communities. Our volunteers find it incredibly motivating."
The PM welcomed business-education partnerships, pointing out there was "nothing new" in the idea.
He went on:
"It is in the areas of greatest disadvantage and where the children have been without much prospect of a decent education that these organisations have made a difference."
- Read the transcript from the first seminar
- Read the transcript from the second seminar
- Read the transcript from the third seminar (coming soon)
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