Leaders clash on education
The three main parties clashed in the Commons today on their respective education policies.
With Tony Blair due to make a key note speech on schools later today, and the Conservatives promising they will slash red tape, education is likely to be an ongoing campaigning issue.
At Prime Minister’s Question Time, the Conservative leader accused Labour of launching a string of unused initiatives.
Michael Howard claimed that only four schools have been affected by the Power to Innovate policy and that only one school has been granted “earned autonomy”.
His claims were batted aside by the Prime Minister, who said that all schools have more freedom and independence since Labour came to power and attacked the Conservatives’ plans to allow parents to use state funding towards private fees, branding it a subsidy to private education.
Labour, Tony Blair said, would not abandon failing schools, pointing out Government statistics showing over a 50 per cent drop in the number of failing schools.
Mr Blair rejected claims from the Tory leader that one in three children leaving primary school cannot read, write or count properly, saying that 75 per cent of pupils now reached required standards in English, and 73 per cent in Maths- a dramatic improvement on the Conservative legacy, he stated.
Labour would improve the quality of all schools in a fair manner, Mr Blair claimed.
Replying to questioning from Liberal Democrats leader Charles Kennedy on the potential development of a two-tier school system with the expansion of the City Academy programme, Mr Blair said there would be no return to selection.
Respondinh to Mr Kennedy’s statement that parents want high quality local schools, Mr Blair jibed that if Mr Kennedy is in favour of specialist schools and city academies and opposed selection he should cross the floor to join Labour.
