Fiona Hyslop gives backing for trust schools

Published on Saturday 14 November 2009 19:08

EDUCATION secretary Fiona Hyslop has broken her silence on the controversial issue of trust schools and given the clearest indication yet of Scottish Government support.

East Lothian Council was last week revealed to be considering the controversial arms-length model of school control in a bid to save money by grouping schools in a joint trust under a single board of governors.

Trust schools, which have proved popular in England, with hundreds of schools already taking up the status, are funded by councils, but run by governing bodies which can employ their own staff, make separate admissions arrangements and manage their own assets. Governors can also include representatives from private business.

The East Lothian proposal received an initially lukewarm response from the Scottish government and was condemned by most opposition politicians who want schools to remain in full council control. But writing in Scotland on Sunday today Hyslop says: "The model of trusts implemented in England has serious flaws, but the community empowerment proposals being explored by East Lothian Council are interesting.

"I firmly believe we all need to be open to making changes to the way education is delivered and to embrace those changes if we are serious about driving up standards and improving performance."