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Tories plan primary 'academies' Tories plan primary 'academies'
(about 2 hours later)
A Tory government would give primary schools in England more control over the way they are run - in a similar way to city academies, the party has said.A Tory government would give primary schools in England more control over the way they are run - in a similar way to city academies, the party has said.
Education spokesman Michael Gove wants successful primaries to be given freedom from council control and power over curriculum, budget and hours.Education spokesman Michael Gove wants successful primaries to be given freedom from council control and power over curriculum, budget and hours.
He argues this would make schools genuinely accountable to parents and free them from political interference.He argues this would make schools genuinely accountable to parents and free them from political interference.
Ministers described the proposals as "risky" and "ill-thought through".Ministers described the proposals as "risky" and "ill-thought through".
The Tories announced last year that they would allow the 400 top performing state secondary schools in England to become independent but state-funded academies free from government control.The Tories announced last year that they would allow the 400 top performing state secondary schools in England to become independent but state-funded academies free from government control.
Ahead of the Conservative's Spring Forum in Cheltenham this weekend, Mr Gove said: "Academy freedoms for secondary schools have already helped thousands of disadvantaged children by driving up standards in the state sector.Ahead of the Conservative's Spring Forum in Cheltenham this weekend, Mr Gove said: "Academy freedoms for secondary schools have already helped thousands of disadvantaged children by driving up standards in the state sector.
"We want to allow the same thing to happen in primary schools."We want to allow the same thing to happen in primary schools.
"Making schools genuinely accountable to parents by freeing them from political interference and giving them control over budgets, curriculum and staff could make a real difference to the opportunities for some of the most deprived children.""Making schools genuinely accountable to parents by freeing them from political interference and giving them control over budgets, curriculum and staff could make a real difference to the opportunities for some of the most deprived children."
'Letting children down''Letting children down'
Mr Gove also announced his party would allow community groups, charities, philanthropists and education federations to set up new primary schools.Mr Gove also announced his party would allow community groups, charities, philanthropists and education federations to set up new primary schools.
Local authority-run schools with consistently poor results would also be taken over by organisations behind successful academy schools - such as the ARK charity, the Mercers Company and the Harris Federation, he said.Local authority-run schools with consistently poor results would also be taken over by organisations behind successful academy schools - such as the ARK charity, the Mercers Company and the Harris Federation, he said.
All the Tories seem to care about is primary schools going it alone and opting out of the national curriculum in an unregulated free market experiment Jim KnightSchools ministerAll the Tories seem to care about is primary schools going it alone and opting out of the national curriculum in an unregulated free market experiment Jim KnightSchools minister
Mr Gove went on to accuse the government of letting children down.Mr Gove went on to accuse the government of letting children down.
He highlighted official figures that show four out of 10 children leave primary school in England unable to read, write and add up.He highlighted official figures that show four out of 10 children leave primary school in England unable to read, write and add up.
He also said 34,000 11-year-olds had a reading age below that expected of a six-year-old.He also said 34,000 11-year-olds had a reading age below that expected of a six-year-old.
But schools Minister Jim Knight condemned the Tory plans.But schools Minister Jim Knight condemned the Tory plans.
"This announcement is risky, ill-thought through and will send a chill down the spines of parents and teachers around the country," he said."This announcement is risky, ill-thought through and will send a chill down the spines of parents and teachers around the country," he said.
"Our priority in primary education is to get schools working together to make budgets go further, improve leadership and extend specialist teaching so that all children master the basics and no child falls behind."Our priority in primary education is to get schools working together to make budgets go further, improve leadership and extend specialist teaching so that all children master the basics and no child falls behind.
"All the Tories seem to care about is primary schools going it alone and opting out of the national curriculum in an unregulated free market experiment.""All the Tories seem to care about is primary schools going it alone and opting out of the national curriculum in an unregulated free market experiment."
Academies worked to raise standards at some secondary schools, he said, but underperforming small primary schools needed co-operation not independence.Academies worked to raise standards at some secondary schools, he said, but underperforming small primary schools needed co-operation not independence.
A study for the Sutton Trust education charity concluded last year that academies should not be treated as a "cure-all" for England's educational problems because their performance varied widely.A study for the Sutton Trust education charity concluded last year that academies should not be treated as a "cure-all" for England's educational problems because their performance varied widely.
The report on the state-funded privately run schools pointed out 72% still did not meet government benchmarks.The report on the state-funded privately run schools pointed out 72% still did not meet government benchmarks.
It also suggested rises in achievement corresponded to falls in the proportion of pupils from deprived backgrounds.It also suggested rises in achievement corresponded to falls in the proportion of pupils from deprived backgrounds.