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Blair urges 'modernised' comprehensives
 Tony Blair and David Blunkett want to end 'monolithic' schools |
Schools should break away from "monolithic" practices, says the Prime Minister Tony Blair.
In a speech at St John's College, University of Oxford, Mr Blair called for the modernisation of the comprehensive system, encouraging "diversity" and innovative approaches to raising standards.
This could mean the end of the traditional school day and the opening of classrooms around the clock - with schools offering out-of-hours classes for pupils and the wider community.
Mr Blair said that the state school system needed to serve the different and specialised needs of pupils, without resorting to selection.
"We need to abandon a mindset which views only two broad options - an entire system based on selection, with some kind of 11-plus, or standardised, monolithic comprehensives."
Specialist schools needed to be able to serve the particular needs of pupils who might excel at sport or music or drama, said Mr Blair.
"How many children sit in schools today, with low ambitions but huge reserves of talent that have never been unearthed?"
Mr Blair, who faced heckling from students protesting against tuition fees when he arrived, also emphasised the importance of children learning modern languages.
In response, the Education Secretary David Blunkett, said that he would look at ways of "giving practical help to primary schools in teaching modern languages".
Although primary schools are not obliged to teach modern languages, Mr Blunkett said the Department for Education would be publishing guidelines to encourage more languages teaching.
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 | 21 Oct 99 | Education |
| Blair blamed over 'excuses culture' |
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| 19 Jul 99 | Education |
| Blair's cash offer to language teachers |
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| 23 Mar 99 | Education |
| Blunkett targets urban comprehensives |
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