Tory Education Manifesto

• The Conservatives have today launched their education manifesto.

• Labour's Schools Secretary Ed Balls said:
  
  "This airbrushed re-announcement of existing policies will do nothing to convince parents on modest and middle incomes, who already face a Tory squeeze, that the Conservatives are on their side.
  
  "David Cameron's warm words are worth little when he plans immediate cuts to school funding this year. This would mean fewer teachers, fewer teaching assistants and bigger class sizes.
  
  "David Cameron also needs to do his homework. Despite his claims, Teach First is exclusively focused on fast-tracking the best graduates into the most challenging urban schools. We are more than doubling the number of places and piloting an extension to primary schools too.
  
  "The fact is that teaching has been transformed from a demoralised profession in 1997 to the number one choice for graduates today. To attract top professionals to make a career change into teaching we are already working with over 400 leading employers, focusing on key subjects like maths and science. And to put teaching on the same footing as high-status professions like doctors and lawyers we are introducing a new Licence to Practice with a right for all teachers to get ongoing training and career development. It's time the Tories backed these reforms."