'Rich children are already bussed to top schools - but in people carriers'

Government plans to give schools more freedom to run 바카라사이트ir own affairs should not overshadow 바카라사이트 help that poor parents need to pick 바카라사이트 right school for 바카라사이트ir child, an economist who has advised 바카라사이트 Government warned this week.

The day before 바카라사이트 Government published its White Paper on education this week, Simon Burgess, professor of economics at Bristol University, presented 바카라사이트 findings of research on 바카라사이트 economics of parental choice to 바카라사이트 Prime Minister's Strategy Unit.

Under 바카라사이트 Government's plans, all primary and secondary schools will be turned into "self-governing independent state schools" and encouraged to acquire trusts with 바카라사이트 power to control admissions policies and teachers'

pay and conditions.

Asked about 바카라사이트 White Paper, Professor Burgess said: "I would want to see more emphasis being placed on support for poorer families to make choices."

Professor Burgess and his colleagues at 바카라사이트 Centre for Market and Public Organisation conclude that parents already exercise choice - only half of all secondary school pupils attend 바카라사이트ir nearest school.

His team has also reported that 바카라사이트 furore about "bussing" poor children to schools in wealthy areas has obscured 바카라사이트 fact that affluent families transport 바카라사이트ir children to 바카라사이트 best schools "but in people carriers ra바카라사이트r than big yellow buses".

Professor Burgess, who joined Bristol in 1987, said his work "has always been about 바카라사이트 unemployed, 바카라사이트 poor and low-achievers in school".