RADICAL plans to overhaul secondary education will lead to poorer pupils in Swindon being worse off, it has been claimed.

Education secretary Charles Clarke revealed a five-year strategy designed to break with the past by turning compre-hensive schools into independent specialist institutions.

Under the proposals, parents and pupils will have more choice, good schools could expand and schools could have more control over affairs such as admissions and recruitment.

But teaching unions in Swindon say the reforms may mean improved edu-cation for some but not all pupils.

Phil Baker, secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "I would liken these plans to the break up of British Rail.

"Parental choice has become a political buzz word. Where there is choice there will always be winners and losers. It will be the articulate middle classes who will get increased choice rather than those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

"To continue to increase the size of so called successful schools is not always in the best interests of pupils.

"I welcome they have turned down upfront selection of pupils but I am concerned where there is a scramble for places there will be subtle selection.

"Education in Swindon is starting to move forward again. These plans would create an undue diversion from the task we have embarked upon."

He is also concerned about the growth of city academies, which would replace failing schools, and in which private firms would run once-failing schools.

Dick Mattick, secretary of the local NASUWT union branch, said: "We have had experience of specialist colleges in Swindon and I don't know how many pupils opt to go to a particular school because it has a specialism.

"People tend to want to got to their nearest school. The aims are admirable but what will be achieved is debatable."

But Bradon Forest School headteacher Len Spiers welcomed the greater freedom to expand.

He said: "We are a foundation school already and we feel that is an advantage.

"But having worked in inner cities I know it takes an entire community to turn a school in difficulties around.

"The sentiment of these reforms is similar to ones made by successive governments over the years. I think an element of them will be welcome."

Bhavani Vadde