Bermuda should proceed carefully with public school reform -- and allow for plenty of time, money, and input from teachers and parents when implementing change, British education officials have warned.

Britain's state schools have gone through a series of changes since the introduction of the 1988 Education Reform Act.

While the educators who spoke with The Royal Gazette said they supported at least one aspect of the major reform -- a national curriculum -- they all agreed that too many changes have been implemented without sufficient planning, funds and their input.

And when told about Bermuda's education reform plans, which include the introduction of a national curriculum, middle schools, and the mainstreaming of special students, they warned Bermuda not to make the same mistakes as Britain.

National Union of Teachers representative in Bath, Mr. Rob Henderson, said the NUT had been calling for a national curriculum "for years''.

But, he said, it was introduced with little consultation from the union and parents.

"Government seems to have a fear of educationalists,'' he said. "They believe all the problems we have had in the past 20 years has been due to `trendy' teachers. But all the ideas they seem to push were tried and rejected by the US.

"They really have no idea of what goes on in schools.'' "So we have a national curriculum that has been changed over and over again since the Education Reform Act was introduced in 1988 and nothing is being accomplished in schools.'' "First determine what it is you want to achieve,'' education director for Bath in southwest England Mr. Graham Badman advised, "then determine how you're going to do, then be consistent and give the process of change time to work.'' "In Britain,'' he said, "there has been change upon change which is very counterproductive. If I had one plea for education, it would be there has been enough change.'' Mr. Badman said schools are struggling to fully implement the new curriculum by the year 2000 with insufficient funds.

"We cannot afford not to spend on education,'' he said. "Bermuda should realise what changes proposed will cost and ensure that it is willing to spend what it takes.'' Bath Liberal Democrat MP Don Foster said: "The crucial thing is to make sure Government's reform programme benefits from other countries' experiences.

Mr. Foster also warned of the danger of comprehensive schools only catering to the average student.

And head teacher at Beechan Cliff, an all boys' grant-maintained (government) school, Mr. Roy Ludlow agreed.

He added: "I certainly would not go for middle schools. They have not been a means of raising standards. They seem to continue with the primary school philosophy more than they should''.

Mr. Ludlow said in order for a comprehensive school to work emphasis must be placed on academic standards and discipline, which is usually not the case in UK comprehensive schools.