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Cameron war on ‘coasting’ schools
9 September 2011 Last updated at 14:52 ET
Mr Cameron says education makes people “good citizens”David Cameron has accused a number of state schools in England – particularly in more affluent areas – of “coasting”.
He vowed to confront failure in education head-on and deliver “real excellence” through greater choice, competition and freedom.
In a speech at a new Free School in Norwich, the prime minister said new providers would expose “complacency” and help drive up standards.
He also said parents of children who play truant could have benefits cut.
“By the end of next year we would have transformed about 150 secondaries and 200 failing primaries into academies,” Mr Cameron said.
‘Wake-up call’
“Today we are considering whether we need to go further and faster. It is not just failing schools we need to tackle; it is coasting schools too, the ones whose results have either flat-lined or they haven’t improved as much as they could have done.
“More than four out of five state schools in Surrey and Oxfordshire are doing worse than two state schools in relatively deprived parts of inner-London. That must be a wake-up call.”
He added: “If can get 70% of children to get five good GCSEs, including English and maths, in parts of inner London, should be asking why aren’t we doing that everywhere in parts of the country that are wealthier like Oxfordshire where I represent.”
The prime minister also vowed to tackle discipline, saying parents of children who continually misbehave should face “real consequences”.
“I have asked our social policy review to look into whether we should cut the benefits of those parents whose children constantly play truant,” he said.
“Yes, this would be a tough measure – but we urgently need to restore order and respect in the classroom and I don’t want ideas like this to be off the table.”
Mr Cameron made the comments at the opening of one of England’s first free schools, the Norwich Free School.
He said he wanted to see schools like it “replicated many, many times up and down the country”.
In an interview with BBC political editor Nick Robinson, he also revealed that he wanted his old school Eton College to set up a school in the state sector.
Representatives of top public schools met the prime minister and Education Secretary Michael Gove on Thursday in Downing Street to discuss the issue.
Critics have called Free Schools, which are state-funded but privately run, socially divisive and unaccountable.
The schools are being set up by parents, teachers, faith groups and other organisations.
Some Lib Dems have opposed free schools amid fears they could be socially divisive, but Mr Cameron says both parties are behind the scheme.
Education ministers recently said they were increasing the minimum standard for schools.
By 2015, any secondary school which sees less than half of its students achieve five good GCSEs will be classified as failing. Currently the standard is 30%.
Ministers hope new free schools and more academies will give parents more choice and help push standards up where.
Bradford Science Academy
Secondary school, taking 140 children a year. Led by Bradford-born teacher Sajid Hussain.
Rainbow Free School, Bradford
Primary school set up by the social enterprise body Asian Trade Link, with support from cricketer Imran Khan.
Batley Grammar School, Kirklees
Mixed private school returning to the state sector under the free schools programme.
Maharishi School, Lancashire
Non-selective independent school for ages 4 – 16. Teaches transcendental meditation and is transferring to the state sector.
Sandbach School, Cheshire East
Boys’ secondary school which was technically independent, but fully-funded by Cheshire County Council and a local authority school.
Nishkam Free School, Birmingham
Primary school run by the Nishkam Education Trust “the first state-funded, Sikh ethos, multi-faith school in the Midlands”.
Krishna Avanti Primary School, Leicester
Hindu faith school run by the I-Foundation. Children will eat vegetarian meals and practice yoga and meditation.
Priors Free School, Warwickshire
Small private primary school with just 60 places, returning to the state sector.
The Free School, Norwich
A primary school opening in a Georgian house which was previously used as offices.
Stour Valley Community School, Suffolk
Secondary school set up after a campaign by parents, on the of an existing middle school was facing closure.
Moorlands School, Luton
An independent prep school transferring to the state sector.
Langley Hall Primary Academy, Slough
Set up by a husband and wife team, the school is “underpinned by Christian principles”.
Bristol Free School, Bristol
Parent-led secondary school, opening to Year 7 pupils in temporary buildings. An educational trust will run the school.
All Saints Junior School, Reading
School for 7 to 11 year olds, run by the educational trust CfBT. It will take up to 25 children, all in its ngest age group, each year.
Discovery New School, West Sussex
Montessori primary school with “a Christian character in the Anglican tradition”.
Aldborough E-ACT Free School, Redbridge
Primary school run by a charitable trust set up by E-ACT
Eden Primary, Haringey, North London
Jewish primary school “independent of any synagogue authority” and open to all members of the Jewish community.
Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School, Mill Hill, London
Jewish primary with “very strong link with the local community and Mill Hill United Synagogue”. Space for 28 children in reception.
Ark Atwood Primary Academy, Westminster
Primary school run by the education charity Ark.
Woodpecker Hall Primary Academy, Edmonton, London
“Sister school” to a nearby over-subscribed primary, Cuckoo Hall Academy. Will eventually have 420 pupils.
West London Free School, Hammersmith, London
Mixed, non-selective secondary taking 120 pupils a year, set up by a parents’ group led by writer Toby ng, as a “grammar school for all”.
Ark Conway Primary Academy, Hammersmith & Fulham
One-form entry school set up by the Ark education charity.
Canary Wharf College, Tower Hamlets
Christian school with an average class size of 20. Open for children in reception, Year 1 and Year 2.
St Luke’s Church of England Primary School, Camden, north London
Parent- and church-led, set up in a church hall, with places for those living closest to the school.
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