David Miliband gives keynote speech at Redland Green School

Redland has always been renowned for its excellent schools so what better place for Labour’s David Miliband to unveil his ideas for the British education system...should his party ever regain power.

In his speech at Redland Green School on Wednesday (June 30), Miliband, who is in the running for the Labour leadership, spoke about education for all.

He said: “Education is the most powerful way in which life chances are shaped, and it is an area over which Government has greatest power.  I know this from my own education – at two primary schools, three comprehensives (one in the USA), and two universities in Britain and America.  And I know it from my own constituency, whose schools and teachers are a vital inspiration for my optimism about educational change.

“My vision is of a society where children of all family backgrounds do get equal opportunities; but it has to be more than that.  I want more than the opportunity to be unequal, more than a fair race to be the next Stephen Hawking.” 

He went on to praise Redland Green School, saying: “This school is a fantastic example of what is possible.  Redland Green has new buildings, extra teachers, new opportunities for education within and beyond the classroom. A Sixth Form learning community for North Bristol, not just students in this school, is already delivering results. Claremont Special School is co-located onsite, providing real opportunities for integration of children with special needs.

“This school reflects parent power and community interest.  Without them, it would not exist.  I should know – since as Schools Minister I supported this school, meeting the absolutely legitimate demands of the local community for extra local provision and higher standards.”

He also talked about the Government Academies Bill, Ofsted and the National Curriculum.

To read a full copy of David Miliband’s speech at Redland Green School please visit his website.