Conservatives to give Schools Secretary power to overrule councils over new schools: report

A Schools Secretary in a Conservative government will have the power to overrule decisions by local authorities blocking plans for new schools, the Daily Telegraph has reported.

Under the proposals, the secretary of state would be able to overrule local decisions if he considers there are enough reasons to do so.

Regulations would also be changed to allow anyone to turn an existing building into a school without the need for planning permission. In addition, when an existing school closes, the site would not be allowed to be used for any other purpose without the secretary of state’s agreement.

A senior Conservative source told the Telegraph: “This is one of the most radical changes in planning law ever. We are putting town hall bureaucrats on notice that they cannot stop parents or other groups setting up their own schools.

“Labour town halls may not like this proposal but if local authorities are confident their schools are good then they should not fear this because there will be no demand for new ones locally.”

The proposal is understood to be contained in the Conservatives’ draft education manifesto, which is set to be published shortly.

Schools minister Vernon Coaker criticised the plan. He told the Telegraph: “This reveals that the Tories would cut out the views of local communities and centralise all decisions about local schools in the hands of one minister in Whitehall. Under David Cameron’s plan any organisation will be able to get taxpayers’ money to set up their own school regardless of local need or circumstances.

“And with no planning restrictions schools will be able to open in pre-fabricated buildings and rented office blocks, as they do in Sweden, without the sort of decent facilities all children should have like places to play and do sport outside.”