Lib Dems announce plans to get rid of Britain's class-based education system
February 6, 2009 12:19 PM
Lib Dems want to give every child the same opportunities in education
New education proposals from the Liberal Democrats call for raising standards in all local schools; closing the gap between children from rich and poor families and ending the era of Government meddling in education.
Speaking about the proposals, Wantage and Didcot Lib Dem spokesman Alan Armitage said: "There are a number of radical ideas to ensure all young people get the best start in life. The extra cash will make a real difference in our local schools. I am particularly pleased that funding is proposed to cut infant class sizes to private school levels of 15. The Lib Dems will also introduce a Pupil Premium, to ensure that extra funding goes to the pupils with the highest needs, whichever school they are in. And some of that extra money will pay for after school and Saturday classes, and extended school days.
"We will also get central government off the back of schools, teachers and pupils. The days of ministers in Whitehall stifling schools and interfering with everything that happens in the classroom must end. Schools here in need to be freed to teach children rather than spend their time obeying ministerial orders and trying to achieve government targets. The schools proposals put forward by the Liberal Democrats will go a long way to ensuring that the many thousands of local children who go to local schools have at least as good a start in life as the small number who are educated privately."
The policy paper proposes a Pupil Premium which would raise the per pupil spending of the most disadvantaged children to private school levels. The money would be used by schools to offer extra support and help break the link between social background and performance at school. In total the Pupil Premium would see an additional £2.5bn directed into the school system. The initial priority would be to target the most disadvantaged children - those entitled to free school meals (around one million children) - to bring the per pupil funding for these pupils up to private school levels. Average fees at a private school are around £9k, but these figures include the subsidies used to reduce fees for poorer children attending private schools.
The Pupil Premium could be used by schools to provide:
- More one-to-one tuition - particularly to deliver good basic literacy and numeracy.
- Evidence indicates that early investment in Reading Recovery and in numeracy can be highly effective if sustained.
- Additional staff to help children and parents in challenging home environments, such as Home/School Support Workers.
- Smaller class sizes or small nurture groups for vulnerable children.
- A longer school day and more after school activities.
- Saturday classes and holiday time provision.
- Higher pay and 'hard to serve' bonuses to attract the best teachers to the most challenging schools.
The proposals will be debated at the Liberal Democrats' spring conference in Harrogate in March.
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