The Schools White Paper: Will it produce higher standards and better schools for all?

The article presents information on the author's opinion on the success of the White Paper, "Higher Standards, Better Schools for All," in producing higher educational standards in Great Britain. The New Labour party, which came to power in 1997, failed to close the achievement gap between affluent and disadvantaged pupils in it's first eight years. The focus of the White Paper is primarily on structures--on reducing the role of local authorities, encouraging new providers to enter the market and suggesting that state schools might be run by self-governing trusts with external sponsors.