Tories champion state schools
Monday, 1 October 2007 12:00 AM
The Conservatives today pledged to champion successful state schools.
Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove launched a new campaign, Comprehensively Excellent, to champion the best performing state schools and spread their examples of best practice.
Outlining a raft of education proposals at the Conservative conference, Mr Gove said education was too important to wait until the Conservatives could get into power and he would begin campaigning now.
If elected, Mr Gove told delegates the Conservatives would focus on narrowing the achievement gap between the most advantaged and disadvantaged pupils, championing "one nation" politics.
He did commit to more funding for the most disadvantaged pupils - although failed to match Liberal Democrat and Labour promises to match funding with pupils in the private sector.
Mr Gove also stressed traditional Conservative values including more power for teachers and parents.
He argued parents need to be given meaningful choice over their children's education. If elected he pledged to remove the barriers to new school building, including encouraging churches and voluntary groups to found schools.
The Tories also declared war on the compensation culture, pledging to remove health and safety barriers to bring "adventure back into learning".
Mr Gove told delegates in Blackpool: "I share the fear that our children are being brought up in a world where they are so insulated from adventure, so restricted by health and safety rules, that they never learn to manage risk.
"Because they cannot find it in the safe environment of school, some seek risk in the dangerous environments of gang culture."
The shadow education secretary repeated a commitment to anonymity for teachers accused of abuse until their case is resolved.
As part of a series of measures to "shift the balance of power" back in favour of teachers, Mr Gove also backed calls to scrap expulsion tribunals.
Mr Gove backed more freedom for teachers to innovate, but said teaching methods must be based on sound theory.
Appealing directly to the heart of the grass roots, Mr Gove called for setting by ability and for Churchill to be written back into the curriculum.
Arguing the "dogmatic policy of forced inclusion is wrong," he also pledged to block the closure of special schools to give parents the freedom to choose the best place for their special needs child.
Speaking as part of this morning's public services debate, Mr Gove argued there was an urgent need to reform education, both to maintain British competitiveness in a globalised world, and for social justice.
While his policy proposals may have been rooted in the traditional Conservative freedom, his rhetoric prioritised social justice and opportunity.
Mr Gove condemned the current system, which sees the attainment gap between the most and least advantaged pupils increase as they progress through school.
He told delegates: "There is a growing divide in our nation, between the rich and the poor, which should be healed by education - but which is made worse by our education system."
The shadow education secretary said the school system must be reform to overcome disadvantage, unlock talent and unite the country.
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