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Scrap curriculum argue Lib Dems Scrap curriculum, argue Lib Dems
(about 1 hour later)
Plans to scrap the national curriculum are due to be detailed at the Liberal Democrat party's annual conference. The Liberal Democrats have outlined plans to scrap England's national curriculum and "close the performance gap between rich and poor pupils".
Education spokesman David Laws also wants to raise the funding for a million poorer children to the same levels as those in private schools. Education spokesman David Laws told the party's conference that Labour treated schools like the last century's "great nationalised industries".
But party leader Nick Clegg has told the Sunday Times that he might send his children to private schools because of concerns over secondary schooling. He called for the 635-page curriculum to be replaced with a 21-page document.
Mr Laws also said funding for a million poorer children should be at the same levels as for those in private schools.
Some of the £20bn the party had identified in public sector savings would be spent on a pupil premium, a policy adopted at last year's conference, he added.
'Grovelling letter'
The premium would follow poorer children, in the first instance those who are eligible for free school meals, and be paid directly to the school.
The party says this will cost £2.5bn, and will raise the funding of a million children to levels found in the private sector.
Mr Laws said: "A society that can look at a child at age seven and know he or she is condemned to failure is neither liberal, nor free, nor fair.
"It should be the central mission of the Liberal democrats to end this great injustice."
He added: "No school should be directly accountable to ministers.
"And no school should ever again have to write a grovelling letter to the secretary of state, seeking his permission to be creative...
"The 635 pages of the nationalised curriculum should go in the shredder.
"Let's replace it with something closer to the 21 pages that seem to do the job in places like Sweden."
'Father first'
Earlier, party leader Nick Clegg told the Sunday Times he might send his children to private schools because of concerns over secondary schooling.
"I am a father before a politician," he told the paper."I am a father before a politician," he told the paper.
Mr Clegg added: "I am not holding my children's future and education hostage to a game of political football."Mr Clegg added: "I am not holding my children's future and education hostage to a game of political football."
Replaced
He also said he would not rule out "dipping into his pocket" for his two sons.He also said he would not rule out "dipping into his pocket" for his two sons.
Mr Laws will tell the conference in Bournemouth that the 635 pages of the national curriculum should be shredded, and replaced by 21 pages that appear to work in countries such as Sweden.
He will also affirm the party's call for the scrapping of Key Stage 3 tests for 14-year-olds.
And Mr Laws will explain how some of the £20bn the party says it will identify in savings will be spent on a pupil premium.
The premium will follow poorer children, in the first instance those who are eligible for free school meals, and will be paid directly to the school.
The party says it will cost £2.5bn, and will raise the funding of a million children to levels found in private education.
Police pressure
Meanwhile, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne is expected to say he wants more underperforming police officers to lose their jobs, and renew his call for an end to the "job for life" culture in the police force.Meanwhile, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne is expected to say he wants more underperforming police officers to lose their jobs, and renew his call for an end to the "job for life" culture in the police force.
The party wants mainly elected police authorities to exert pressure on chief constables to dismiss officers who are not up to their tasks.The party wants mainly elected police authorities to exert pressure on chief constables to dismiss officers who are not up to their tasks.
Speaking ahead of the conference's crime debate, Mr Huhne said: "We are prepared to take the tough action on police reform that Labour and the Tories have always ducked.Speaking ahead of the conference's crime debate, Mr Huhne said: "We are prepared to take the tough action on police reform that Labour and the Tories have always ducked.
"It is extremely unusual for anybody to be dismissed from the police other than for illegal activities.""It is extremely unusual for anybody to be dismissed from the police other than for illegal activities."