Michael Gove: Education debate must confront reality

Thursday, 16 June 2011 9:00 AM

Michael Gove, education secretary, says the school system must adapt and that sights should be set higher:

"We have just suffered the worst financial crisis since 1929. Our economy is weighed down by a huge debt burden. Europe has major problems with debt and the euro.

"Meanwhile there is a rapid and historic shift of political and economic power to Asia and a series of scientific and technological changes that are transforming our culture, economy and global politics.

"If we do not have a school system that is adapting to and preparing for these challenges – a school system that is not only adapting to the amazing revolution of iTunes, whereby Harvard and Oxbridge publish their most valuable content free, but is also able to adapt to the unknown revolutions ahead - then we will face even worse crises in the years ahead.

"The education debate in this country has not confronted reality. Education systems across the world are improving faster than England. We have to set our sights higher.

"We should no longer tolerate a system in which so many pupils leave primary school without a good grasp of English and maths, and leave secondary school without five good GCSEs. We want all parents to have a choice of good local schools.

"Evidence shows that the academy programme has had a good effect on school standards. Heads and teachers should run schools and they should be more accountable to parents instead of politicians. We must go faster and further in using the programme to deal with underperforming schools." 

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