A first-class education for all gains MP's support (Cambridge Liberal Democrats)

Cambridge Liberal Democrats <camlibdems@gmail.com>

A first-class education for all gains MP's support

March 3, 2009 10:19 AM

Plans to inject £2.5 billion into the country's education system to help the poorest children do well at school, is backed by Cambridge MP David Howarth.

He believes every child should have a fair chance, but acknowledges that the present education system for five to 19-year-olds is failing many young people, especially those from deprived backgrounds.

Mr Howarth is supporting a call to the Liberal Democrat spring conference on Saturday, March 7 to commit to providing every child with access to a first-class education.

"It is crucial that we invest in the future of our children to give them the skills and education to allow them to be successful," he said. "But we need to close the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged children.

"Every child deserves a chance but the current system is failing many of our young people. We must ensure that every child has local access to a first class school or college. We must create an education system fit for the future."

The Lib Dems would invest the extra money as a Pupil Premium to bring the funding of the country's one million poorest and most educationally disadvantaged youngsters up to the levels in private schools.

Under the scheme, schools would be able to use the Pupil Premium to cut class sizes, boost one-to-one tuition and offer financial incentives for teachers to work in the most challenging schools.

The system of national testing would be radically slimmed down and the savings reinvested in early interventions to improve pupils' literacy and numeracy.