Anger at leak of schools report

Barry Sheerman is angry about the leak

A draft report which calls for changes to controversial plans for England's schools has been leaked.

It calls for schools to be set targets on how many children from poorer backgrounds they admit.

Some commentators say the final version of the report - from the education select committee - will be the basis of a government climbdown on the plans.

The final report is due on Thursday. Ministers face tough opposition to their plans for trust schools.

As many as 90 rebel Labour MPs are threatening to vote against the plans when they come to the Commons next month.

The author of the report and committee chairman - Labour MP Barry Sheerman - is angry at the leak to The Times.

The education select committee - which includes MPs from across the parliamentary parties - has been examining the government's White Paper on schools.

The version of the committee's report which has been leaked is the chairman's report, which could well be amended after MPs on the panel meet to discuss it on Monday.

Targets for disadvantaged

It is understood the leaked document says the committee is not against trust schools but makes many recommendations to reduce their powers.

It suggests local authorities should set targets for schools on how many children they admit who receive free school meals, and should police a new national code on admissions which would outlaw selection and interviewing parents or pupils.

Rebel Labour backbenchers who have come out against the plans for trust schools complain that the changes would mean children from poorer families would lose out because middle class families would work the system to their advantage.

They also fear the changes would open the door to schools selecting children on academic ability in the future.

Mr Sheerman told the BBC News website: "I am very angry because someone has leaked the draft report and that is against every parliamentary protocol and a very serious offence.

"It is mischievous. The leaker has some political reason behind it.

"This is not the final report. That will be written after discussions with the whole committee on Monday."

The government has billed the changes as a way of "freeing schools to succeed".

Essentially, trust schools would control their own assets and employment of staff, have freedom to vary the curriculum and - most contentiously - be put in charge of their own admissions on the basis that they follow a national code of practice on this.

About 90 Labour MPs have said they will vote against the legislation when it comes to the Commons next month unless the government changes its plans.

The former Labour leader Lord Kinnock attacked the plans on Thursday, saying they would shatter the education system for future generations.

Education Secretary Ruth Kelly has said she believes the government is winning over many of the rebels.

She told the Today programme on BBC Radio Four: "I think there is big misunderstanding among certain of my colleagues. But actually in the talks that I have been having with backbenchers over the last couple of months, those concerns have narrowed down quite substantially to a couple of areas," she said.

"I think we can give the necessary clarification and reassurance on those points and that is what they are looking for."