Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
I think the lack of social mobility in the United Kingdom
is one of the greatest challenges that we now face.
It's frankly a tragedy what's happening to thousands of children.
A recent survey, for instance, showed that
a bright but poor child is now overtaken in school
by the age of 7 by a less bright but wealthier child.
It simply can't be right that people are
condemned for life by the circumstances of their birth.
And that's why I have said that
education is such an absolute priority for me.
A good education system,
a school system which liberates people's potential,
inspires young people,
is fundamental to living in a liberal society where people
can chase their dreams, fulfil their potential,
pursue their ideals,
and that's why already, in the few weeks that I've been Leader,
I've returned over and over again to education,
why I've put so much emphasis, for instance,
on doing what they do much better in other European countries,
for instance the Netherlands,
in which they allocate money in a much more targeted way
to those children - the poorest children - who need
the most help, particularly in the early years
and primary years of their education.
It's why I've placed such an emphasis on giving
communities much greater say over the way in which they run their schools,
giving local authorities real strategic oversight over our school system,
but making sure that parents' groups, voluntary groups, community groups
also have the freedom to innovate
in providing schools which are best suited to their area;
why I've also placed a heavy emphasis on
making sure that we don't allow selection to take root
in academy schools, foundation schools,
trust schools, and so on.
Children have to be in a position to
choose schools, not the other way round.
I think that mixture, if you like, of a
greater justice in the way in which we administer money,
getting rid of selection and providing local communities
with more say over the way in which their schools are run
is a recipe for a more liberal education system
which gives all children, not just some children,
that real headstart in life.