The Liberal Democrat Party launched their manifesto this morning. Here is the complete list of education pledges.
Driving up school standards:
The party say they will:
– Protect the education budget in real terms from the early years to age 19.
– Protect the schools’ Pupil Premium in real terms and introduce a fair National Funding Formula.
– Provide support and intervention to ensure that all schools become good or outstanding.
– Expand the Talented Head Teachers programme.
– Increase the number of Teaching Schools.
– Ensure there is a democratically accountable ‘middle tier’ to support schools where problems are identified.
– Introduce a local Head Teacher Board, working with schools and local authorities.
– Abolish unelected Regional School Commissioners.
– Rule out state-funded profit-making schools.
– Give local authorities responsibility for local school-place planning.
– Only fund new mainstream schools in areas where school places are needed.
– Repeal the rule that all new state-funded schools must be free schools or academies.
– Allow local authorities to select the school sponsor, where this is not the local authority itself.
– Ensure a fair local schools admissions process.
– Implement the Children’s Commissioner’s report They Go The Extra Mile
– Extend free school meals to all children in primary education.
We will ensure there is world-class teaching
The party say they will:
– Guarantee all teachers in state-funded schools will be fully qualified or working towards Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from September 2016.
– Introduce a clear and properly funded entitlement to professional development for all teachers.
– Raise the bar for entry to the profession, requiring a B grade minimum in GCSE maths and English.
– Establish a new profession-led Royal College of Teachers, eventually to oversee QTS and professional development.
– Continue to support the Teach First programme.
– Establish a new National Leadership Institute.
– Encourage primary schools to have at least one science specialist.
On curriculum and qualifications:
The party say they will:
– Ensure the core curriculum will be taught at every state-funded school.
– Establish an independent Educational Standards Authority (ESA) entirely removed from Ministerial interference responsible for curriculum and examination standards.
– Introduce a minimum curriculum entitlement – a slimmed down core national curriculum, which will be taught in all state-funded schools. This will include PSHE, financial literacy, first aid and emergency lifesaving skills, citizenship, and age-appropriate sex and relationship education.
– Religious education will be included in the core curriculum.
– Improve careers advice in schools and colleges.
For Special Education Needs (SEN) the party will:
– Improve the identification of SEN and disability at the earliest possible stage.
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