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/8542589.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Tories to create more academies Tories to reform academy system
(about 1 hour later)
The Conservatives have set out plans to allow hundreds more schools in England to become academies, free from local authority control. The Conservatives say they would change the law within days of winning a general election to allow hundreds more schools in England to become academies.
Shadow education secretary Michael Gove told a meeting of head teachers he would bring in a new education bill within days of a Tory election victory. Shadow education secretary Michael Gove said a new education bill would remove the need for schools to consult local councils before becoming independent.
It would also exempt the best schools from Ofsted inspections to allow the watchdog to focus on problem schools.It would also exempt the best schools from Ofsted inspections to allow the watchdog to focus on problem schools.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has also been discussing early years education plans. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said he wanted to focus on cutting class sizes.
Mr Gove, along with party leader David Cameron, said a Tory government would remove the need for schools to consult local authorities before converting to an academy. Academies receive state funding, but control over how that money is spent rests with those in charge of the individual school.
This would allow schools to opt out of council control by September if the Tories win the general election, expected in May. Worst schools
"We need a new generation of independent state schools run by teachers who know your child's name, not by politicians," he said. Mr Gove, along with party leader David Cameron, told a meeting of head teachers that if the Tories won the general election, expected in May, a new education bill would be on the statute book by July.
The money will be targeted to closing the gap between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their wealthier classmates Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg This, he said, would allow schools to opt out of council control and become academies by September.
"If we win the election, we will act within days to raise standards," he said.
"We need a new generation of independent state schools run by teachers who know your child's name, not by politicians."
The money will be targeted to closing the gap between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their wealthier classmates Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg Lib Dems link school cash to poor
He also announced plans to reform Ofsted and identify the 100 worst performing schools in England and place them in the hands of "school leaders with a proven track record of success".He also announced plans to reform Ofsted and identify the 100 worst performing schools in England and place them in the hands of "school leaders with a proven track record of success".
"Learning from practitioners in the field, trusting professionals rather than ideology and accentuating that what happens in the best should happen in all that are at the heart of our policy," he added.
Mr Cameron said: "We really do believe in giving schools more freedom and more control over their own affairs.Mr Cameron said: "We really do believe in giving schools more freedom and more control over their own affairs.
"So if schools want to do that [become academies], they'll have all those advantages of money flowing directly to them, of having more control over what goes on in the school, of being their own admissions authority.""So if schools want to do that [become academies], they'll have all those advantages of money flowing directly to them, of having more control over what goes on in the school, of being their own admissions authority."
Responding to the Tory plans, Schools Secretary Ed Balls said parents wanted to know "how hundreds of 'free market schools' could be set up without large cuts in funding to existing schools".
"Where this was tried in Sweden it led to falling standards, higher costs and rising social inequality," he said.
Mr Balls also said the Tory plan to tackle the 100 worst schools was "less ambitious" than plans already outlined by the government.
'Scrapping databases''Scrapping databases'
In a speech to the Salvation Army, Mr Clegg stressed the importance of early years education in tacking inequality, and pledge £2.5bn to help cut school class sizes, recruit the best teachers and provide more one-to-one tuition.In a speech to the Salvation Army, Mr Clegg stressed the importance of early years education in tacking inequality, and pledge £2.5bn to help cut school class sizes, recruit the best teachers and provide more one-to-one tuition.
An average primary school could see an extra £90,000 in its budget, he said - enough to cut class sizes from 27 to 20. In an average secondary school, the aim is to cut class sizes down to 16.An average primary school could see an extra £90,000 in its budget, he said - enough to cut class sizes from 27 to 20. In an average secondary school, the aim is to cut class sizes down to 16.
"The money will be targeted specifically to closing the gap between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their wealthier classmates," he is expected to say."The money will be targeted specifically to closing the gap between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their wealthier classmates," he is expected to say.
Mr Clegg promised to pay for the reforms by "scrapping unnecessary government databases", scaling back education quangos and halving the size of the Children Schools and Families department in Whitehall.Mr Clegg promised to pay for the reforms by "scrapping unnecessary government databases", scaling back education quangos and halving the size of the Children Schools and Families department in Whitehall.