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.