Michael Howard has pledged a crackdown on unruly pupils and vowed to go back to basics in education.

The Conservative leader and shadow education secretary Tim Collins used Thursday morning's press conference to focus on their education plans.

The party called for the restoration of traditional teaching methods and stressed the importance of children from all backgrounds becoming fluent in English.

"Conservatives will give youngsters the opportunity that comes from learning in well-disciplined schools – where the minority isn’t able to ruin the education of the majority," Howard said.

"If children don't learn respect for authority in class they're much less likely to respect others when they grow up.

"So a Conservative government will give head teachers back control over their schools."

The party claimed that too many pupils are failing in the basics of literacy and numeracy.

Poor worst hit

Conservatives claim that those worst affected are those from underprivileged backgrounds.

"The whole system lacks ambition. A pass grade for a Maths GCSE is now as low as 16 per cent.  You get four out of five questions wrong and you still pass," said Howard.

"When I travel round the country, perhaps the most heartbreaking sight I see is the children who've dropped out of school. 

"Youngsters going off the rails - each of them a story of lost opportunity, but also a warning of the kind of country Britain will become if we don't change direction."

And the party pledged to go back to basics in the nation's classrooms. "A Conservative government will ensure that teachers are trained in traditional, proven teaching methods like phonics," said Howard.

"Phonics is the best way to teach children how to read and write. This is important for all children – but it is particularly important for those whose first language is not English. 

"A common language is the most obvious binding element in any society. Without it, it is much harder for people to be active members of the community.

"It's important that people who make their home here learn the language of our nation.

"Of course people may choose to carry on speaking their family tongue at home – that must be a matter for them. But they do need to learn English properly too."