Secondary School PFI confusion

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 6th Jul 2002

Serge Lourie, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Richmond Council has highlighted the delays in much needed improvements to the secondary schools in the borough because of the new administration's commitment to exploring whether sixth forms can be introduced into local schools.

After the successful primary school Private Finance Initiative, the intention of the former administration was to press on with a large investment in the secondary schools. This process has now been halted and the consensus on secondary education that has lasted since the 1970s when the former conservative administration brought in the system of 11-16 secondary schools and the Tertiary College has ended. A review of the state of the Council's schools indicates that over £20 million needs to be spent on urgent improvements and maintenance.

Said Serge Lourie: "We viewed the Secondary PFI as an important way in which large sums of capital could be brought into the schools to improve the fabric of the buildings and update the equipment."

"I believe that the ideologically driven agenda of the Conservatives has put paid to the hope all the schools had of significant improvement in the near future. Our objective has been to provide the best possible education to all local children. I fear that the Conservatives actions will damage the education of the children, the schools and the Tertiary College."