Friends of Grammar Schools

By STEVE HAWKES Business Editor

410 words       Publication date: 14 October 2009

Source: The Sun          Page: 23

(c) 2009 News Group Newspapers.  All rights reserved

THE boss of Tesco yesterday slammed the Government’s record on education – saying school standards were “woefully low”.

Sir Terry Leahy said teachers were drowning in red tape and firms were “left to pick up the pieces” with school leavers.

He urged ministers to ditch the bureaucrats and agencies issuing “reams of instructions” to schools and allow them to concentrate on lessons.

Sir Terry, who is chief executive officer of the supermarket giant, said: “As the largest private employer in the country, we depend on high standards in our schools, as today’s schoolchildren are tomorrow’s team.

“Sadly, despite all the money that has been spent, standards are still woefully low in too many.”

The attack stunned onlookers at a grocery industry conference in London.

Sir Terry sits on Gordon Brown’s Business Council but is known for trying to keep out of party politics and showing support for the Government of the day.

Under Labour, spending on education has nearly doubled since 1997 to £5,870 a pupil.

Yet Tesco is forced to “top up” school leavers’ basic skills, including numeracy, as they begin work in the business.

The company employs 280,000 staff in the UK, with 41,000 aged 19 or under.

Sir Terry’s blast will be seen as another hammer blow for Labour given Tony Blair’s pledge in 1997 to make “education, education, education” his top priority.

The Tesco boss added that UK firms were burdened with too much tax and too much regulation. He said: “Both spell higher costs, less investment and fewer new jobs.

“Governments can best help us by not distracting us from our core task – to deliver for the customer.”

Liverpool-born Sir Terry, 53, one of the most influential leaders in British business, went to a grammar school before attending the University of Manchester’s Institute of Science and Technology.

His attack comes amid growing frustration with the Government in the business world. Earlier this month, Marks & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose urged the PM not to “demonise” business after he attacked the free market.

Education Secretary Ed Balls has said the Government will continue to increase spending on schools, insisting that education standards have “come a long way” since 1997.

steve.hawkes@the-sun.co.uk