Cameron urges end to ‘sterile debate’ on grammars
David Cameron has continued to criticise his own party over its commitment to grammar schools, urging Tories to move on from a “sterile debate” about building a few more grammar schools. The Conservative leader has denied he will make grammar schools into his “Clause Four moment”, but insisted he will carry the party with him […]
Tories warned against ‘right-wing debating society’
David Cameron has continued to face internal divisions over his dismissal of grammar schools, with some within the party claiming it risks become Mr Cameron’s “clause four moment”. Tony Blair stamped his leadership on the Labour party, and risked splitting the party’s traditional left wing, when he removed clause four – which committed the party […]
Cameron hits back at ‘naive’ opponents
David Cameron has been forced to rebuke his backbench MPs, as the Conservative party threatens to fracture over the issue of grammar schools and the party’s commitment to academic selection. This could be the first real test of Mr Cameron’s ability to carry his traditional supporters behind his vision of a new Conservative party. Mr […]
Reforms promised to key stage exams
National tests at 11 and 14 could be scrapped in favour of a series of assessments that pupils would take when they were ready, under a new pilot scheme. From September, 100 local authorities will try offering children the opportunity to take key stage national tests, or Sats, when they reach the required level rather […]
Kelly defends sending son to private school
Ruth Kelly has defended her decision to send one of her children to a private school, saying it was taken on “professional advice”. The communities secretary has come under fire after the revelation that she had moved her son from a state school to a £15,000-a-year boarding school, with one backbench Labour MP describing it […]
Think tank urges return of school selection
One in four parents would choose a selective school for their child and half believe they provide the best opportunities for poorer students, a new survey reveals. The ICM poll for the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) finds that 76 per cent of people back some kind of selection in schools, whether as an entry […]
Cameron: Only we can raise school standards
Only the Conservatives can improve standards in Britain’s schools, David Cameron has declared. Despite record funding for education under Labour, the Tory leader warned that the “ladder of opportunity has been kicked away from far too many children for far too long”. Launching his party’s interim report on school standards, he warned that competence among […]
Tories warn of ‘education apartheid’
England is facing an “education apartheid” as private school pupils increasingly study for different exams than those in the state sector, David Willetts has warned. The shadow education secretary argued a lack of confidence in GCSEs and A-levels means many independent schools were turning to exams such as the IGCSE, the pre-U or the international […]
MPs criticise Brown’s school funding pledge
Gordon Brown has been taken to task by MPs over his pledge to raise the level of funding per state school pupil to that of students in private schools. The education and skills select committee today says the chancellor’s Budget announcement appears to be an aspiration rather than a definable goal and warns that “future […]
Basics do well at GCSE but language entries fall
The number of students getting a good pass in their maths and English GCSEs has increased slightly this year, despite business concerns about a decline in basic skills. Ministers and union leaders welcomed the rise in students getting a C grade or above in English, from 60.9 per cent to 61.6 per cent, and in […]
