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Cameron challenged on 'no cuts' school funding promise | Cameron challenged on 'no cuts' school funding promise |
(about 2 hours later) | |
David Cameron has promised a future Conservative government would protect England's schools budget - but funding per child would be below inflation. | |
The prime minister said the government would provide £7bn for places for rising numbers of pupils, describing it as a "practical" settlement. | |
Mr Cameron said hundreds more secondary schools would become academies. | Mr Cameron said hundreds more secondary schools would become academies. |
Labour's Tristram Hunt said Tory claims to protect funding were "unravelling" and represented a "real-terms cut". | Labour's Tristram Hunt said Tory claims to protect funding were "unravelling" and represented a "real-terms cut". |
On school funding, the prime minister promised to protect "flat cash" per pupil spending, which would reduce in value with inflation. | On school funding, the prime minister promised to protect "flat cash" per pupil spending, which would reduce in value with inflation. |
Mr Cameron said this would mean "difficult decisions", but the government had demonstrated that with greater efficiency "more could be achieved with less". | Mr Cameron said this would mean "difficult decisions", but the government had demonstrated that with greater efficiency "more could be achieved with less". |
Changing leadership | Changing leadership |
But Mr Hunt said: "The truth is that you can't protect schools when you have plans to take spending as a share of GDP back to levels not seen since the 1930s." | But Mr Hunt said: "The truth is that you can't protect schools when you have plans to take spending as a share of GDP back to levels not seen since the 1930s." |
David Laws, the Liberal Democrat schools minister, said the financial commitment from David Cameron was "unbelievably weak". | David Laws, the Liberal Democrat schools minister, said the financial commitment from David Cameron was "unbelievably weak". |
He said it would mean a real-terms cut for schools and "deep cuts" in spending on pre-school and post-16 education. | He said it would mean a real-terms cut for schools and "deep cuts" in spending on pre-school and post-16 education. |
The Association of Colleges said restricting the budget protection to schools was "desperately disappointing" for further education and sixth form colleges. | The Association of Colleges said restricting the budget protection to schools was "desperately disappointing" for further education and sixth form colleges. |
On school standards, the prime minister said the government "won't tolerate failure" and would raise achievement in 3,500 schools rated "requires improvement" by Ofsted. | On school standards, the prime minister said the government "won't tolerate failure" and would raise achievement in 3,500 schools rated "requires improvement" by Ofsted. |
They would have new leaderships imposed - such as being taken over by academy trusts. Struggling academies would be switched to other academy sponsors. | They would have new leaderships imposed - such as being taken over by academy trusts. Struggling academies would be switched to other academy sponsors. |
Schools labelled as "requires improvement" are above the lowest "inadequate" rating, but below the levels of "good" and "outstanding". | Schools labelled as "requires improvement" are above the lowest "inadequate" rating, but below the levels of "good" and "outstanding". |
Mr Cameron, speaking at Kingsmead school in north London, said that every secondary school in this "requires improvement" category would be expected to become an academy. | Mr Cameron, speaking at Kingsmead school in north London, said that every secondary school in this "requires improvement" category would be expected to become an academy. |
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan earlier told the BBC: "This is not about saying heads would automatically be replaced. | Education Secretary Nicky Morgan earlier told the BBC: "This is not about saying heads would automatically be replaced. |
"Where a school doesn't have the capacity to improve itself, and many do, or where they don't have a plan that is going to lead to that school being rated good or outstanding, then one of the answers might be to get new leadership in." | "Where a school doesn't have the capacity to improve itself, and many do, or where they don't have a plan that is going to lead to that school being rated good or outstanding, then one of the answers might be to get new leadership in." |
'Not good enough' | 'Not good enough' |
Almost a quarter of secondary schools, about 720 schools, are rated as requiring improvement. About 16% of primary, more than 2,600 schools, would be affected by the proposals. | Almost a quarter of secondary schools, about 720 schools, are rated as requiring improvement. About 16% of primary, more than 2,600 schools, would be affected by the proposals. |
"No-one wants their child to go to a failing school and no-one wants to them to go to a coasting school either," said Mr Cameron. | "No-one wants their child to go to a failing school and no-one wants to them to go to a coasting school either," said Mr Cameron. |
"'Just enough' is not good enough. That means no more sink schools and no more 'bog standard' schools either. | "'Just enough' is not good enough. That means no more sink schools and no more 'bog standard' schools either. |
"Our aim is this: the best start in life for every child, wherever they're from - no excuses." | "Our aim is this: the best start in life for every child, wherever they're from - no excuses." |
Russell Hobby, leader of the National Association of Head Teachers, attacked the proposals as "ill informed" and a decision to "declare war on schools". | Russell Hobby, leader of the National Association of Head Teachers, attacked the proposals as "ill informed" and a decision to "declare war on schools". |
"David Cameron has chosen to do what it is easy - score points off teachers and play with structures - rather than what is difficult but effective - work with the profession to improve the quality of teaching," said Mr Hobby. | "David Cameron has chosen to do what it is easy - score points off teachers and play with structures - rather than what is difficult but effective - work with the profession to improve the quality of teaching," said Mr Hobby. |
But the CBI backed plans to improve "critical building blocks" such as English and maths. | But the CBI backed plans to improve "critical building blocks" such as English and maths. |
"We can no longer tolerate a long tail of poor achievement that leaves many young people struggling and too many employers needing to help them catch up," said CBI director-general, John Cridland. | "We can no longer tolerate a long tail of poor achievement that leaves many young people struggling and too many employers needing to help them catch up," said CBI director-general, John Cridland. |
Mary Bousted, leader of the ATL teachers' union, criticised the plan as "self-serving, publicity-seeking nonsense". | Mary Bousted, leader of the ATL teachers' union, criticised the plan as "self-serving, publicity-seeking nonsense". |
Teachers' unions highlighted that last week the cross-party House of Commons education select committee found no clear evidence that academies had "raised standards overall". | Teachers' unions highlighted that last week the cross-party House of Commons education select committee found no clear evidence that academies had "raised standards overall". |
In particular MPs said there was no evidence of improvement from primary academies and called on the government to commission research as a matter of urgency. | In particular MPs said there was no evidence of improvement from primary academies and called on the government to commission research as a matter of urgency. |
Changing control | Changing control |
Schools which are already academies and which fall into the "requires improvement" category face being taken away from their existing academy chain and run by another. | Schools which are already academies and which fall into the "requires improvement" category face being taken away from their existing academy chain and run by another. |
Ofsted's annual report shows more than a third of sponsored academies, both primary and secondary, are currently rated as requiring improvement, a higher proportion than local authority schools. | Ofsted's annual report shows more than a third of sponsored academies, both primary and secondary, are currently rated as requiring improvement, a higher proportion than local authority schools. |
Free schools which are in this rating could also be handed over to another academy group. | Free schools which are in this rating could also be handed over to another academy group. |
The areas more likely to be affected are those with the highest proportion of pupils not attending "good" or "outstanding" schools. | The areas more likely to be affected are those with the highest proportion of pupils not attending "good" or "outstanding" schools. |
For primary schools this would be Medway, Doncaster, Bracknell Forest and East Sussex. | For primary schools this would be Medway, Doncaster, Bracknell Forest and East Sussex. |
At secondary level, Ofsted's figures show it would be the Isle of Wight, Hartlepool, St Helens and Oldham. | At secondary level, Ofsted's figures show it would be the Isle of Wight, Hartlepool, St Helens and Oldham. |
The label "requires improvement" was introduced by Ofsted Sir Michael Wilshaw, replacing what had previously been the "satisfactory" category. | The label "requires improvement" was introduced by Ofsted Sir Michael Wilshaw, replacing what had previously been the "satisfactory" category. |
Times table tests | Times table tests |
On Sunday, head teachers' leaders had reacted angrily to suggestions that primary schools could be failed or heads replaced if any pupils failed to pass a times table test. | On Sunday, head teachers' leaders had reacted angrily to suggestions that primary schools could be failed or heads replaced if any pupils failed to pass a times table test. |
Mrs Morgan announced plans for tougher primary maths tests, including that all pupils should know their 12 times table. | Mrs Morgan announced plans for tougher primary maths tests, including that all pupils should know their 12 times table. |
Ministers announced two years ago that primary pupils would have to learn the 12 times table by the age of nine and it became a requirement in the updated curriculum. | Ministers announced two years ago that primary pupils would have to learn the 12 times table by the age of nine and it became a requirement in the updated curriculum. |
Mrs Morgan's target is for England's schools to catch up with international competitors and to enter the top five of the PISA tests in English and maths by 2020. | Mrs Morgan's target is for England's schools to catch up with international competitors and to enter the top five of the PISA tests in English and maths by 2020. |
Labour's Tristram Hunt argued that the quality of teaching was the key to raising school standards to match international competitors. | Labour's Tristram Hunt argued that the quality of teaching was the key to raising school standards to match international competitors. |
"Many parents will be shocked to learn that David Cameron's government has changed the rules to allow unqualified teachers into the classroom on a permanent basis, leading to a 16% rise in the last year alone." | "Many parents will be shocked to learn that David Cameron's government has changed the rules to allow unqualified teachers into the classroom on a permanent basis, leading to a 16% rise in the last year alone." |