Council Survey Reveals Northumberland Against 2 Tier Changes

1.40.47pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 5th Apr 2005

Majority favour current system

Despite the spin doctors employed by Labour run Northumberland County Council, its own independent poll has found a majority of people in the county are against the proposed changes in education. The random telephone poll to residents, hidden in appendix 5 of the council report, found that 59% disagreed with the plans, with only 22% agreeing and 19% having no opinion. Of those who were Middle school parents a whopping 75% disagreed with the plans and only 16% agreed.

Councillor Neil Bradbury, commenting on the results said, "these statistics prove what we've been saying all along - that parents don't want a change. Until the council can prove that parents are behind the plans they should stop trying to drive this unpopular policy through." The liberal Democrat policy is for each area to decide so that only in areas where parents want the change will middle schools be abolished.

"Parents face a clear choice in the local elections: Vote Lib Dem if you want to keep three tier education in Tynedale and vote Labour or Tory if you don't".