School that should be a lesson to us all

When raising a family, however, you want the best for your kids and even before the patter of tiny feet graces your parquet flooring you are thinking of which school you are going to be registering your interest with.

For those that can afford it, Edinburgh's large choice of independent schools offers some impressive exam statistics. The majority of parents cannot afford that choice and so must turn instead to Edinburgh's council-run schools.

Even then financial means still play a crucial factor in determining the choice of school, only this time it is the size of mortgage that can be afforded that will determine where the location of the family home can be - and therefore the catchment areas of particular schools.

When, in the 80s, the Conservatives introduced the assisted-places scheme that paid the school fees of bright children from families of poorer financial means, the differences between the independent and state sectors were blurred.

Many children that displayed an academic aptitude found they were able to access schools such as George Heriot's or Stewart's Melville. For reasons that I've never quite understood, the Tories didn't expand the popular scheme and so make it an indispensable part of Scotland's educational scene.

It was no surprise then that when Labour came to power Education Minister Brian Wilson found it easy to abolish the scheme. So much for the social inclusion and equality of opportunity that was promised.

Such is the demand for independent schools that the gradual disappearance of the assisted places scheme was accommodated relatively painlessly by the schools - the real difficulties were faced by the parents who found their placing requests for attractive council schools exceeded supply.

As this drama has unfolded however, there has been one independent school that, by its own actions, illustrates just how contradictory and hypocritical Labour's education policies have been. That school is Rudolph Steiner, and it is located in Edinburgh.

The school is one of more than 300 such schools located throughout the world adhering to the education principles of German educationalist Rudolph Steiner. When he founded his first school for the children of the Waldorf cigarette factory in Stuttgart he insisted, unusually for the time, that it be for both boys and girls, have no entrance examination, be a unified 12-year school and be run by its teachers - not the local council.

While education certificates have their place, a more rounded, culturally-led, what we now call holistic education was his vision.

In many countries such as Sweden, the Netherlands and Switzerland you will find Steiner schools operating within the state system with no fees to discourage entry. Here in Scotland it is different - there are no Steiner schools in the state sector. If you want your children to attend them in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen you have to finance the fees.

Scotland's Steiner schools have no wish to be in this situation, they would rather operate within the council-managed state sector but, despite the support of the SNP, Tories and Liberal Democrats, the Scottish Executive refuses to countenance that choice.

Edinburgh City Council could itself introduce a Steiner school in the city by funding the existing school or purchasing places for the city's children that wish to attend - but it too is Labour-controlled and displays the same ideologically prejudiced approach.

I wish I could tell you why, but no-one from the Labour Party seems willing to explain what their objections are. A few weeks ago there was a parliamentary debate about Steiner schools, sponsored by Mike Pringle and supported by David McLetchie, Robin Harper and myself - but not a single Labour MSP bothered to turn up.

A comprehensive, inclusive school that wants to become part of the state system - what does Labour fear? Could it just be that the independence of spirit, the difference in approach, just might be popular, that the Executive and the council is scared to set up a system of schooling that it does not control and might become a runaway success?

A national scheme that helps new specialist but independently managed state schools be established or existing schools change, be they for music, the arts, languages or Steiner education, would open up education irrespective of a family's spending power or residential location. Competition from these new schools will not only raise the game of the state schools but also give the independent sector the challenge necessary to keep it on it toes.

Such a system is being proposed by Tony Blair for England - but such is the educational arrogance and prejudice of Scottish Labour politicians we shall see no such innovation allowed here.

What can be done then in Edinburgh? There is a solution available. When the council elections are held in 2007 it is difficult to conceive a scenario that keeps Labour in power. A new ruling group of councillors composed of a coalition of Liberal Democrat, Tory and SNP members will emerge and when they do they should negotiate with the city's Steiner school to provide this style of education for those that want it. They can buy places at the school or fund the school as part of its city-wide network.

By providing real choice in its schools Edinburgh could set the pace for the rest of Scotland - and keep it one of the most attractive places to raise a family in the western world.

Brian Monteith is an independent MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife