East: School management US style!

Deborah McGurran Politics Show East

The Politics Show East investigates Edison, the American schools management company which may run some schools in Essex.

Edison wants to expand school management beyond the USA

Up to 12 schools in Essex will join a controversial scheme which gives a private American firm a stake in running them.

Edison is the USA's largest for-profit manager of public schools. It has already come under fire in the USA and its share price has fallen.

Edison's performance with pupils has been questioned in the USA. Despite this, Essex County Council has given its full backing to the scheme.

Government initiative?

Edison was introduced to Essex by the Department for Education and Skills (DFES) as part of the Government's drive to modernise public services.

Prime Minister Blair warned his critics in the Labour party that they must back his public service reforms or risk letting the Tories back into power.

Improved public services is our objective

Prime Minister Blair

In a speech to the centre-left think-tank, the Fabian Society, Mr Blair said:

"Improved public services is our objective because better public services drive equality, extend opportunity and bind society together.

"The core of our second-term programme is to rebuild the public realm and re-energise public services. It's complex and it's difficult to achieve. It's long-term. But it will define what kind of country we live in for years."

Edison want to expand beyond USA

We speak to head teachers who applaud it and the unions who object to it. The firm will offer a blueprint for running the school, software packages and teaching programmes.

Ted Roley, Head Teacher of the John Bramston secondary school in Witham in Essex is keen to use the techniques in his school.

They will be doing a complete school redesign

Ted Roley, Head teacher

Mr Roley said:" I am very excited about it. They will be doing a complete school redesign, which affects management, curriculum and teaching.

"It will reorganise the school's functions. The Local Education Authority have been very supportive".

But the National Union of Teachers say the reorganisation could put extra strain on teachers and do not like Edison's record of employing low paid staff.

Some of the Edison managed schools in the USA have shown improvements, but others have reported mixed results.

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