Social mobility

Education is the key to social mobility and I am delighted that under David Cameron the Conservatives will be focusing on raising standards for all children. Much has been made of David Cameron’s statement that there would be no going back to the 11-plus. He actually made this clear in a speech made back in January 2006.
What has received less publicity are the other elements of Conservative education plans
* Existing grammar schools will be supported and protected where they remain.
* What is best from the grammar school experience must be made available for all pupils. This means bright pupils should be taught in in classes with other bright pupils.
* It will be made easier for new schools to be opened. The fundamental problem is that there are not enough svhools which are seen as good schools by parents.
*The type of school which offer the best prospect for improving education are those introduced by the Conservatives City Technology Colleges which have been carried forward by Tony Blair as Acadamies. The requirement for a sponsor of an Academy to contribute £2 million must be removed to allow new Academies to be opened.
* Academy providers must be invited to run schools with whole class teaching; setting and streaming and a robust and strict discipline policy because these are effective ways of improving standards.