IN an Advertiser poll 59 per cent of readers have told us they are for the Government's education reforms.

As we reported earlier this week, education secretary Ruth Kelly is planning a major shake-up of schools.

Originally she planned for every school to break away from local authority control but Ms Kelly said this week that they would still control admissions policy.

Forty one per cent of readers are in favour of the changes.

Ms Kelly wants to give parents more choice and powers over schools.

But she has made changes to the white paper.

Ms Kelly said the Bill would now encourage fair admissions so no trust school or any other maintained school can undertake any further selection by academic ability.

Local authorities will not be able to stop popular schools expanding, but Ms Kelly said that a school adjudicator would have to take account of fair access and the local authorities' strategic plans in settling disputes.

When setting up schools, local councils will be able to set out the communities they should serve.

Other changes involved in the white paper include greater curriculum flexibility, more independence and greater provisions for work experience for 14 to 19-year-olds.

Teaching union leaders in the town are not welcoming the reforms.