Education
Education
The future of our children has to be determined now, to ensure that Britain retains its place as a major powerhouse, and continues to develop as quickly as it is doing now. This is why we need to ensure that their future is as bright as possible, for them to succeed, and help keep this country great. This is why we need to ensure that all future generations are qualified for their future careers to provide the most that they can for the country, and to help themselves achieve the most possible. This is why we believe that the Conservatives can provide for this country’s future through education, to help this country prosper, to provide opportunities for its people, to secure our nation’s future.
Unification of Qualifications
In order for absolute recognition of our students' qualifications, there must be a consensus across the United Kingdom. In order to ensure that no individual is at a disadvantage due to his or her geographical location, or even the preference of the attended school, we will standardise examinations across the United Kingdom - this will mean an amalgamation of all exam boards, this process will be overseen by an Independent Regulatory Body. Universally, KS3 qualifications will be known as 'GCSEs' whereas the qualification suited to KS5 higher education will be known as an 'A-Level.' These measures will also mean that every student is offered the chance to take the new 'British Baccalaureate.'
Acadamies
Failing and costing secondary schools are damaging the education of our children. We will turn these schools into academies, bringing in new leadership to promote rigour in the curriculum, discipline in the classroom, and higher standards overall. We support as much choice as possible for parents and a great variety of education choice - and will continue to support free schools.
STEM Subjects
We support the expansion of the learning of STEM subjects through having a dedicated STEM lesson in KS2 & KS3. STEM subjects are very useful for children's future, and valuable if they go into many fields, for them to achieve what they are aiming for and help improve their lives, the nation’s economy and Britain as a whole. To rival other major European nations, such as Germany, we need to develop skills such as these to rival them, and this can be done by a conservative government.
Culture Education
We also will promote learning and school as not just something for later life, but something to help students gain knowledge about the world, to promote their study of culture and history, British society, Britain as a country, moral values and current world affairs. This will help enhance the creative students, to help shape Britain's future in all aspects, as one of the current cultural and artistic centres of the world.
Historic Languages
To ensure that Britain keeps in touch with its cultural heritage we will ensure that schools in certain areas teach local languages such as Gaelic, Scots, Welsh and Cornish. We want to ensure that local students have the opportunity to speak their local language so that we become more linguistically diverse and to ensure these historic languages do not die out.
Apprenticeships
We wish to promote co operation between school and local businesses, to increase the number of students getting apprenticeships. This has proved to work well in nations such as Germany, and will prepare students who become apprentices to learn skills for later life, and enhance their business side.
League Tables
Improving the standing of our country in the PISA league tables, specifically in STEM subjects, is vital. In order for this to be done, the Conservative Party will commit to training a total of 17,500 fully qualified teachers by the end of this parliament. We will make sure that all students are pushed to achieve their potential and create more opportunities to stretch the most able.
