This week CHRIS JOHNSON asks the Lewisham mayoyal candidates their views on the Government's Education Bill, how they would tackle the problem of truancy and where they would build a new secondary school in the borough.

Steve Bullock

CURRENT Mayor of Lewisham Steve Bullock says he welcomes the option of schools being run by trusts:

Our experience of academies is good and I welcome discussions with schools which want to explore the trust option.

The Education Bill is about strengthening the partnership between schools and the education authority. It is not about schools having greater independence.

In terms of truancy, the tried and tested works.

We will always spend time with children to find the best way forward but we will take persistent truants and their parents to court.

The Ladywell site is the right location for Lewisham's new secondary school and the funding is in place. Anywhere else will jeopardise the £200m school building programme the Government supports.

Mike Keogh

GREEN Party hopeful Mike Keogh says he would encourage more vocational courses:

I taught science in Catford Boys in the 1980s and now work with the young unemployed, some failed by the academic system.

Greens believe in comprehensive education and reject undermining local education authorities by private businesses and religious organisations who may run schools.

To encourage the young to attend school and become employable I would facilitate vocational courses.

These would address the local lack of plumbers, electricians, mechanics, groundsmen and carpenters.

I would immediately pledge a review of alternative sites for a new secondary school, including Lewisham College, Lewisham Way, and Lewisham Bridge School, Elmira Street.

James Cleverly

TORY James Cleverly wants schools to have greater independence from the local education authority:

Lewisham needs more school places and I would be happy for them to be provided by community groups, charities or trusts.

I also believe in recruiting the right people, giving them autonomy and then trusting them to get on with their jobs.

The key to tackling truancy is making the education system better so kids want to go to school.

If teachers, parents and children have confidence in the system, then truancy will drop.

We need a new school in the north-west of the borough, where we have the highest population growth.

Unlike the current mayor I am willing to keep an open mind about exactly where the site would be.

Chris Maines

LIBERAL Democrat Chris Maines believes schools need to be responsive to the community:

The Education Bill is destroying the council's ability to provide a quality education to all its pupils, regardless of their background.

Schools need to be accountable and responsive to the community.

I would welcome a new school in partnership with, say, Goldsmiths University.

However, the Government is destroying more than it is creating.

We can combat truancy by tailoring education to meet each student's needs by working with those families whose children play truant.

A new school should be built near to Lewisham Way, close to Goldsmiths and places of higher education.

John Hamilton

NEW School Campaign candidate John Hamilton, who recently joined the mayoral race, says school needs to be made more interesting for children:

The new Education Bill will not help pupils.

It will further widen the gap between "successful" and "failing" schools.

Some youngsters have become alienated by the irrelevance of the subjects at school.

Teach them useful skills alongside academic subjects and they will want to learn.

Fining parents for truancy is typical of Labour's "nanny state" approach.

You can't get a school for free.

Lewisham Council has to buy a site and save Ladywell Pool. What about Grove Street, Convoys Wharf, Silwood Triangle or Deptford Strand as potential sites?