Tony Blair and Ruth Kelly will today launch Labour's education mini-manifesto, promising greater "parent and pupil power" in Britain's schools.

In a joint appearance at a city academy in London on Thursday, the prime minister and the education secretary will promise working class voters more teachers, higher standards and better quality buildings for their children.

The government wants to stretch children of all ages by both expanding after-school tuition and focusing on more teaching in small groups or groups according to ability.

Ministers also want greater dialogue with parents and to address the weaknesses as well as strengths of individuals in a more customised fashion.

In his speech, Blair will say that increased parent power will "give all parents - not just a minority as in the past - the choices and opportunities needed for their children to succeed and stay on beyond the age of 16 in sixth form, apprenticeship or training".

"In education, as in health and the other public services, we want the user - the parent and the pupil - to drive the system," he will say.