Gloss that's transparent

Letter: Secondary education in Sandwell has changed dramatically in recent years. Following on from the "Academy" stage, we are now in the "National Challenge Trust" stage, which is similar but different.

One of the most important things they have in common is that control of the schools has been taken away from the local education authority. So I am absolutely astounded at Cllr Ian Jones' acceptance speech at the news of the improvement in GCSE results in the borough.

The results apparently "back the council's pledge to put education at the forefront of our policies".

Now given that most schools are not under LEA control, and having been present when a senior LEA officer explained that Alexandra High School, Tipton, was being put into National Challenge Trust Status because the Government did not trust Sandwell LEA to deliver the standards of education required, I find it difficult to see how Cllr Jones can be claiming the glory.

What I do see is a council having learned well from its national masters. The ability to put a gloss on things when there is clear evidence that failure is ever present - for that they deserve an A* for effort, but the problem for them is that we can now see right through them and we are no longer taken in by them.

I am delighted by the news of the improved results but as for the self-praise at the LEA, I consider that totally misplaced.

Steve Wilkinson, Robert Road, Tipton.