Lib Dems want less government control of schools
The state should "back off" and allow charities, parents and private groups to run schools says Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg. In his first major speech in charge, Mr Clegg suggested creating "Free Schools" under local government oversight, but not council controlled. These "new, liberal" schools would also be non-selective. The Lib Dems also say they would scrap the bottom two GCSE grades as they have "no value" in the labour market. Nick Clegg said "It is time to call a fail a fail and raise expectations by abolishing the lowest pass grades, G and F".
12 Jan 2008
