This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7614996.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Scrap curriculum, argue Lib Dems | Scrap curriculum, argue Lib Dems |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The Liberal Democrats have outlined plans to scrap England's national curriculum and "close the performance gap between rich and poor pupils". | 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 told the party's conference that Labour treated schools like the last century's "great nationalised industries". | Education spokesman David Laws told the party's conference that Labour treated schools like the last century's "great nationalised industries". |
He called for the 635-page curriculum to be replaced with a 21-page document. | 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. | 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. | 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' | '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 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. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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... | "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. | "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." | "Let's replace it with something closer to the 21 pages that seem to do the job in places like Sweden." |
'Father first' | '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. | 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." |
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. |
Meanwhile, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said he wanted more underperforming police officers to lose their jobs, and renewed his call for an end to the "job-for-life" culture in the police force. | |