Education White Paper

Ruth Kelly has detailed Government plans for a major overhaul of the schools system in England.

The education secretary, who was joined by Tony Blair, used a school visit to launch the government's education white paper.

Under the proposals parents will be given more choice over which school their children attend.

Popular schools will also be helped to expand, with more help from businesses or groups of parents.

And the role of local education authorities faces a fundamental overhaul, with a new focus on raising standards and spreading best practice.

Government Response: DfES

“There is nothing more important than educating our children. Doing the best for their child is what every parent strives to do. And we must make sure that our school system is one that helps them to do that.

Because of the progress we have made since 1997 we can now take the next, vital steps. This White Paper sets out our plans to radically improve the system; putting parents and the needs of their children at the heart of our schools, freeing up schools to innovate and succeed, and bringing in new dynamism and new providers. We will ensure that every school delivers an excellent education, that every child achieves to their potential, and that the system is increasingly driven by parents and choice. To make that happen we need an education system that is designed around the needs of the individual – with education tailored to the needs of each child and parents having a say in how schools are run. To achieve that we need to reform schools themselves so that they have the freedoms and flexibilities to deliver the tailored, choice driven education we all want.

This White Paper sets out how we will meet these challenges and build the school system we all want for our children. More than anything it is a White Paper about aspiration. We must have the highest aspirations for every child whatever their talents and ability. And we must have a schools system that can respond to those aspirations. Working together with our many partners in schools and communities, we can achieve our aim of a world class education system, with every school a good school, and every pupil achieving.”

Opposition Response: Conservatives

David Cameron, shadow education secretary said:

"I have always said that what we need is proper rigour in our education system, proper autonomy for schools, and progressively more choice for parents. If the Prime Minister introduces a White Paper with that in mind, then he will have the full backing of the Conservative Party, and we will help him to introduce the reforms properly. Because the education of our children is too important to play games over."

However Mr Blair has effectively wasted eight years being timid and not reforming education properly, and only now at the twilight of his premiership is he actually taking the steps that we pressed him to take for so long."

"It is going to be a serious concern whether they can really introduce these reforms. We have got the roadblock of Gordon Brown, we have got the roadblock of the trade unions, and now we have got the roadblock of John Prescott - who has clearly had a big row over this."

"The row between Tony Blair and John Prescott over the White Paper explains why this Government will never be able to deliver higher standards and rigour in our schools. Tony Blair has had two terms to put reforms in place and has not done so.

"However, we have consistently called for greater school autonomy, choice for parents, and rigour. We will support Tony Blair against both his front benchers and back benchers if he is true to his words."

Opposition Response: Liberal Democrats

Edward Davey MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary, said:

"The Government should focus on standards not structures.

"It is what happens in the classroom, not the boardroom that makes the difference in a child's education. The Government's proposals today won't change anything, in any classroom, anywhere in the country.

"Handing over admissions risks a free-for-all between schools, producing a shambles that will confuse parents, not help them.

"Our secondary schools need real and effective reform - a new and relevant curriculum offering choice of academic and vocational training, smaller classes and properly trained expert teachers.

"Parents and teachers care about pupils' literacy, not the Prime Minister's legacy."

Stakeholder Response: The National Governors Council