Kelly: Reforms

The education system should offer learning opportunities that meet the needs of individual children, Ruth Kelly has said.

Speaking on Thursday, the education secretary urged schools to work with parents to meet the needs of their children.

Her comments came as Labour detailed its education policies at a new city academy in east London.

Tony Blair was expected to pledge that a re-elected Labour administration would "carry through a fundamental system-wide change: to put 'parent power' at the heart of the education system".

"In education, as in health and the other public services, we want the user - the parent and the pupil - to drive the system," the prime minister was set to say.

"The aim: excellence for all, not just for some. This critical advance to a parent-driven system is now possible, thanks to our systematic investment in reform and capacity since 1997."

Pupils

Interviewed on BBC Radio Four's Today programme, Kelly said pupils would be at the centre of the reforms.

"I want to make sure that individual children's needs are met," she said.

"Parents often are an extremely good judge of what is in their child's interests.

"So what I want to see happening as a matter of course is schools talking to parents about what help and support their child needs.

"The best schools do this already, I want to see it the norm right across the system."

Labour's campaign document - the first of a series that will be published up to the formal manifesto launch - highlighted the government's successes since 1997.

It pointed to a 28,500 rise in the number of teachers and 105,000 more classroom assistants and support staff.

There are now higher standards in primary schools and at GCSE level, it added.