Tories yet to explain how they would close gap between pupils - Laws

Commenting on Michael Gove's speech on Tory education aims, Liberal Democrat Shadow Schools Secretary, David Laws said:

"Tory education policy has more loose ends than a plate of spaghetti.

"This speech highlights tensions between Michael Gove's claim to be freeing up schools and the reality of the Tories' obsession with continuing the policy of meddling and micromanaging which would simply replace one Secretary of State with another.

"The Conservatives have also yet to explain how they can deliver on their aim of closing the gap between the chances of young people from advantaged and disadvantaged backgrounds. David Cameron and George Osborne seem unwilling to make any commitment to protect the education budget or find more money for a pupil premium.

"The real gap in Tory education policy is that between their grand stated ambitions and the lack of any measures which would make any difference in raising standards."

Rosie Sharpley believes that education should be allowed to settle down, that teachers, who are the professionals should be free to do the job in the way they were trained to do it with opportunities to adopt a holistic approach to each child. I would like to see the overemphasis on targets reduced being at the same time concerned that standards must be maintained. The bottom line is indeed commitment to protect the education budget, or commit to a pupil premium".