Clarke announces “ambitious programme of reform”
The Education Secretary has unveiled the Government’s five year education policy, promising an “ambitious programme of reform” backed by an increase of £11 billion in investment by 2008.
All secondary schools will become specialist schools, with existing specialist schools allowed to take on an additional speciality. The very best will become training schools and lead school partnerships.
Charles Clarke said that the new plans would raise standards for all pupils so that quality education becomes “the entitlement for all”.
In an statement to the Commons which primarily focused on secondary education, Mr Clarke said that the strategy would increase freedom and independence, accelerate reform and extend choice and flexibility via independent specialist schools with fair admissions and strong accountability. There would be no selection of the few by ability and “rejection of the many,” he added.
From 2006 headteachers will be guaranteed three-year budgets based on pupil numbers. All schools will be refurbished within the next 10 to 15 years.
Provisions were announced to allow schools to fast track to foundation status, under which they can own their own buildings, assets and take responsibility for staff employment.
Popular schools will be allowed to expand to provide more places, with a new pot of money available for schools that wish to expand their premises.
Schools will also be encouraged to adopt school uniforms and establish school houses to provide a greater sense of intimacy in large schools, though this will not be compulsory.
On early years education Mr Clarke said that all parents would receive one-stop support from children’s centres providing flexible “educare”. He pledged to continue driving up primary school standards, with the chance for all pupils to learn a foreign language and to study music as well as to take part in sport. There would be more “dawn to dusk schools” to help children and parents and to provide a genuine education centre for every community.
Local authorities would continue to play a “key part,” the Secretary of State told the House, looking forward to greater choice at 14, including apprenticeships, and to reform post-16, including the potential for new sixth forms.
There would be a Green Paper on activities and services for young people this autumn, he went on, aimed at providing a clearer structure.
Responding to the announcement, the Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Education Tim Collins accused the Government of lifting the plans from the Conservatives. Though he welcomed the three year budget and extra funding for schools, he stressed that there must be more capacity in the system, calling for more school places to ensure that parents can gain their first choice of school. The Conservatives would pay for any child to go to any school they choose, Mr Collins said.
