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School standards 'to take years' School standards 'to take years'
(about 3 hours later)
It will take another 10 years before government reforms raise standards in secondary schools, former Education Secretary David Blunkett has suggested. It will take another 10 years before government reforms raise standards in secondary schools, former education secretary David Blunkett has suggested.
Changes to primary school education saw test results improve sharply in the 1990s, but improvements in secondary schools will take longer, he said. Changes to primary school education saw test results improve sharply in the 1990s but improvements in secondary schools will take longer, he said.
He also acknowledged his citizenship lessons project had failed. He also acknowledged that his citizenship lessons project had failed.
Mr Blunkett made the comments in an interview with his successor, Estelle Morris, for the Teachers' TV channel.Mr Blunkett made the comments in an interview with his successor, Estelle Morris, for the Teachers' TV channel.
He said: "In 1997 we adopted the phrase standards not structures. He said: "In 1997 we adopted the phrase 'standards not structures'.
We need to renew our commitment to ensure citizenship is not seen as a diversion or a burden David BlunkettWe need to renew our commitment to ensure citizenship is not seen as a diversion or a burden David Blunkett
"The first policy document of the Blair government was the white paper on education, including Sure Start, literacy and numeracy."The first policy document of the Blair government was the white paper on education, including Sure Start, literacy and numeracy.
"I believe that we did start to change the world but that it will take another decade to achieve at secondary what we achieved at primary.""I believe that we did start to change the world but that it will take another decade to achieve at secondary what we achieved at primary."
He also acknowledged that his project to make citizenship lessons a key part of school life - one of Mr Blunkett's key policies during his time as Education Secretary - had not yet succeeded. He also acknowledged that his project to make citizenship lessons a key part of school life - one of Mr Blunkett's key policies during his time as education secretary - had not yet succeeded.
He said: "I believe it is crucial to have citizenship on the menu to prepare youngsters for modern life.He said: "I believe it is crucial to have citizenship on the menu to prepare youngsters for modern life.
"I don't think we have entirely got it right yet. We need to renew our commitment to ensure citizenship is not seen as a diversion or a burden.""I don't think we have entirely got it right yet. We need to renew our commitment to ensure citizenship is not seen as a diversion or a burden."
A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "Thousands of secondary school pupils have already benefited from the reforms and investment that this government has made in education - Key Stage, GCSE and A-level results, international comparisons, and Ofsted reports - make this clear.A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "Thousands of secondary school pupils have already benefited from the reforms and investment that this government has made in education - Key Stage, GCSE and A-level results, international comparisons, and Ofsted reports - make this clear.
"Year on year standards are rising - 64% of students now leave school with the five good GCSEs they need and we are already taking forward the reforms that will ensure this is the case for all.""Year on year standards are rising - 64% of students now leave school with the five good GCSEs they need and we are already taking forward the reforms that will ensure this is the case for all."