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ACTION PLAN TO RAISE SCHOOL STANDARDS AND OFFER OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL

Barry Flux, Deputy Chairman of Newcastle Conservatives welcomed new proposals this week to raise standards in schools, create more good school places and increase equality of opportunity. The action plan, entitled ‘Raising the bar, closing the gap’, has been published by Conservative leader, David Cameron.

The paper outlines plans to raise the standards of the worst-performing schools so they can catch up with the best, improve school discipline, get every child who is capable of doing so reading by the age of six, allow new schools to open and create an additional 220,000 good school places. Other proposals include: 

• Charities, voluntary groups and groups of parents would be assisted in setting up new schools in the state sector.
• Increasing teachers’ ability to stop the distruptive use of mobile phones in classrooms.
• Promoting best practice and excellence, including school uniform policies, more extra-curricular activities, a system of prefects, and awards for pupils for academic and sporting achievement.
• Strengthening the powers of head teachers to expel pupils who ruin others’ education.

Barry Flux said: “In Newcastle, 37.5% of pupils achieved 5 high grade GCSEs including Maths and English compared to 60.4% in Conservative controlled Trafford Council in Greater Manchester.

“I welcome these proposals which will help raise standards in our schools, tackle unruly behaviour, and deliver more teaching by ability to stretch the strongest and help the weakest. 

“It is right that we make it easier for charities, groups of parents and other providers to start new schools where there is a need for more good local schools.  They should be helped to do that, not blocked by the Government or town halls.  These plans will give parents a real alternative by encouraging new good schools free from the dead hand of Newcastle City Council.”

Tags: Barry Flux Education