Childrens Plan

From Labour's Education Secretary Rt Hon Charles Clarke MP
to Wednesfield North residents.

Publication of the Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners
Excellent schools in every community Labours proposals.

Today I am announcing our plans for education for the next five years. The Five-Year Strategy for Children and Learners, covers every age group, from under-5s to adult learning, the key details of our plans in each of these areas can be found at www.labour.org.uk/education5yrplan



Children and all those who learn are our future. That is why this government has invested in extra nurseries and childcare places, teachers and schools, books and computers and colleges and universities. This investment has gone hand in hand with reform and together they are producing results. Since 1997 we have:



· given every 3 and 4 year-old an entitlement to a free part time nursery place;

· 28,500 extra teachers paid around 25 per cent more, and 105,000 more support staff;

· smaller class sizes;

· the best ever results at age 11, 14, 16 and 18;

· increased spending per pupil by 27 per cent; invested £13.9 billion in school buildings and connected 99 per cent of schools to the internet;

· raised the number of Apprenticeships from 75,800 to 255,500 today - the highest ever level;

· Helped over 550,000 adults have improved their basic skills since 2001;

· A record number of students now going to university.




But despite the progress we there are key challenges still remain



Under 5s - disadvantage starts early in life and children who get a poor start tend to fall further behind as they go through the education system.

School age years - there are still too few excellent secondary schools for parents and pupils. While standards have risen, they are not yet high enough for all.



14-19 year olds - too many pupils drift, become disenchanted with school or get into trouble and drop out at 16. Vocational learning is still seen as second best.



The world of work - the UK lags behind other countries in terms of output and skills. A large number of adults lack vital skills in literacy and numeracy. Too often the training system does not give employers the sort of courses and qualifications that suit their business.

The main focus today is on secondary education. We want excellent schools in every community enabling every pupil to achieve and ensure that:



Every pupil to have an education tailored to their needs with more choice over what they study backed by extra help in subjects where they struggle and driven to develop faster where they excel.



Every parent to choose from a range of modernised specialist schools or academies, offering a well discipline environment that involves them in their child's learning.



Every school to be an independent, specialist school, with new freedoms to run their own affairs, backed by the security of 3 year budgets so they can achieve the highest standards for every single pupil



Every teacher rewarded and supported to develop their specialism to improve lesson and get better results and put back in the driving seat on discipline.



The dividing lines between Labour and the Tories for the future of children and schools are clear. Labour will raise standards for all, while the Tories will select a few. Labour are creating a new role for Local Authorities but the Tories would leave no role for Local Authorities. Labour will put funding into public services, while the Tories would take it out. Labour's plans will create freedom for all - the Tories will just create a free-for-all. For the Tories, some children matter. For Labour, every child matters. This government has made its decision - for excellence, for opportunity, for choice - but importantly, for all.



Yours,









Charles Clarke