Preparations for a Conservative Education Bill

News stories published this week say that the party has begun drafting its first education bill ready for a rapid move by a new Conservative Government.
It will include, it is alleged, plans to fast-track new academies, to lessen the restrictions of the national curriculum and to do away with national pay deals for teachers.   A team of [...]

Reform Please – by John Redwood

John Redwood MP has kindly allowed us to reproduce this piece which he published on his own website yesterday.   As ever, he comes up with some views that are worthy of further thought and comment.
“Let me upset all those of you who think the state should carry on delivering services badly so we can all carry [...]

Michael Gove says government’s children’s department made catastrophic mistake on number of pupils

David Willetts has already slammed the government over the college funding shortfall.  
 Now Michael Gove, the Shadow Children’s Secretary, has joined in, demanding immediate clarification, and saying that schools are extremely concerned as this will affect their Sixth Forms’ budgets.   He said that Ed Balls’s department had made “a catastrophic mistake” on the numbers of pupils staying [...]

David Willetts slams the government over college funding crisis

David Willetts has criticised the Government for not taking responsibility for the college funding crisis, following the resignation of the Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).
Mark Haysom has stepped down following problems with the LSC’s further education capital programme.
David, the Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, highlighted that ministers [...]

Douglas Carswell outlines his thoughts on a Conservative education policy

“This country has a serious problem:  a large number of people leave the education system functionally illiterate, lacking the basic skills they need to lead an ordinary contented life.”   This was how Douglas Carswell began his recent talk to the Conservative Education Society.
Douglas Carswell is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Harwich, is a member [...]