Why extra choice could be valuable

11:03am Thursday 1st February 2007

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I AM writing in response to recent articles in the Hereford Times and the national press, relating to the proposed Steiner Academy at Much Dewchurch, Hereford.

I am currently theadteacher of Voyager (a special provision for at risk' pupils and part of the maintained sector) in rural Devon. I believe the proposal to provide Steiner education within the state system should be applauded and supported as a way to increase parental choice in the state-funded education we provide for our children.

Once established, a state-funded Steiner school would be open to applications from anyone wishing to send their child there. A state-funded Steiner school will not be able to select pupils or interview parents, so anyone living in the locality could apply to send their children there. It may be that the Steiner curriculum will be more suitable for your child and you have never considered it before, due to the costs involved, or due to your principals of not sending your child to a private school. Now you will have a choice.

I wholeheartedly believe in comprehensive education for all but believe that should mean all children. The current education system, dependant on the National Curriculum, has attempted to ensure equality of provision for all our children.

Any headteacher in the country could tell you that it doesn't suit every child in their school. If the government truly believes every child matters', as it currently says it does, then they need to offer a personalised learning programme to genuinely help every child.

One way could be to increase diversity in the type of curriculum on offer. The Steiner curriculum does offer an alternative'; one that is more established, more international and more tried and tested' than our own National Curriculum.

In my own school we have been at the forefront of innovation. Ofsted inspection in April last year noted The curriculum is good, with outstanding features.' At Voyager we do not simply follow the National Curriculum but have devised a more appropriate curriculum, much of which is inspired by Steiner.

In rural Devon, as in many rural areas like Hereford, most parents have no real choice as to where they can send their children to school. In urban areas it is often possible to choose between two or three nearby schools but in a rural area you usually have the choice' of one! Having state-funded Steiner schools in rural locations will increase the opportunities for every child in that area.

I welcome the development of new state-funded schools which will broaden the curriculum options, especially for those children who are becoming increasingly disenchanted with their current educational provision.

Bryce Wilby, Ashburton Road, Totnes, Devon.