National Curriculum
An incoming Conservative government will launch an immediate wide ranging review of the national curriculum, and set about purging schools of political correctness, Michael Howard has promised.
And former Ofsted chief inspector Chris Woodhead will lead the review in a determined drive to restore traditional teaching standards and discipline to the nation's classrooms, the Party Leader said.
Party Response: Conservative
Michael Howard said: "I know that every child is good at something. The challenge of education is to unlock the individual talents that each child has within them. So I say to parents - whatever your background, however you've voted for in the past: if you want a school that will insist on proper discipline in the classroom; if you want a school that will stretch and motivate its pupils irrespective of their ability; if you want a school that does your child proud - come and join us.
"The problem, as I see it, is that our education system has been engulfed by a tide of political correctness. The rights culture, the 'all must have prizes' culture, the culture that blurs the difference between right and wrong. All this has undermined teachers' authority in our classrooms and standards in our schools.
"It's wrong to pretend that children are adults - they don't always know what's right for them. Children won't necessarily all want to learn their tables or how to spell - just as when they're given the choice between chips and pizza or healthy, nutritious food they're more likely to choose what they like, not what's good for them.
"Children can only learn in a structured safe, environment. A Conservative government will give head teachers back control over their classrooms - they'll have the final say on expulsions. Inclusion at all costs is wrong and it's failed. I will not allow the so-called rights of a disruptive minority to ruin the education of the majority."
Stakeholder Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers
Dr. Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said: "This will decimate the Tory vote amongst teachers.
"Both Woodhead and his back to basics ideas are completely discredited in our schools. We need another look at the curriculum, but with fresh thinking not wooden-top ignorance."
Stakeholder Response: National Union of Teachers
Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "Putting Chris Woodhead in charge of reviewing the National Curriculum would be like putting Judge Jeffries in charge of penal reform.
"The NUT has argued consistently for a slimming down of the National Curriculum but we need a 21st century National Curriculum which takes into account global developments not one from the 19th century
"Chris Woodhead was responsible for reviewing the National Curriculum last time so he is hardly in a position to complain about curriculum overload and political correctness.
"He has no credibility with the teaching profession and any review must be carried out by someone who commands teachers’ respect."
Stakeholder Response: NASUWT
Chris Keates, general secretary of NASUWT, said: "The prospect of turning back the clock by putting Chris Woodhead back into a position of responsibility at the highest level is one that teachers would view with grave concern.
"Teachers will rightly wonder why the Conservative Party is planning to hand the task of reviewing the National Curriculum to one of the architects of the original framework, which had to be abandoned because it was overly burdensome, bureaucratic and not fit for purpose.
"Not only did Mr Woodhead help devise the original curriculum framework but in his capacity as Chief Inspector of Schools he presided over one of the most punitive systems of accountability ever witnessed, and one which failed to win the trust and respect of the majority of parents or teachers.
"Mr Woodhead has not proved to be the sort of figure to be entrusted with reviewing the education system. It would be a grave error to repeat the mistakes of the past, rather than build on the major successes that have been achieved in our schools in recent years.
"Resurrecting Chris Woodhead will not win the hearts, minds, or votes of teachers."
