Access keys Search Skip navigation
LSDA annual summer conference 21-22 June 2005
Conference debate
The motion was: 'This conference believes individual choice can only be met effectively by extending the choice of providers'.
Speaking for the motion:
Ann Rossiter, Acting Director, Social Market Foundation, and Graham Hoyle, Chief Executive, Association of Learning Providers.
Speaking against the motion:
Martin Ward, Deputy General Secretary, Secondary Heads Association, and Stella Mbubaegbu, Principal and Chief Executive, Highbury College, Portsmouth.
The purpose was to debate whether expanding the number of providers of education and training would offer more choice to learners and, ultimately, a better range of services. Arguments in favour of choice centred around the importance of having different kinds of services, supplied by a wider range of learning providers that the customer can choose from instead of just one local "supermarket". Arguments against focused on people's need for a choice of routes , rather than lots of service providers and assertions that a free market is not appropriate for education.
The audience voted 125 against the motion and 40 in favour of it. The motion was lost by an overwhelming majority.
Find out more about the Conference debate
Back to top