Liberal Democrats want every child to get an excellent education because it is the best way to get on in life, get a good job, and learn about the world. Only when all children get a good start, no matter where they live or what their parents do, will we have a fair society. We will provide a fair start for all children by giving schools the money they need to cut class sizes and set teachers free to spend more time teaching in the classroom. We will scrap unfair university tuition fees so everyone has the chance to get a degree, regardless of how rich their parents are.

Ensure children get the individual attention they need by cutting class sizes by introducing a ‘Pupil Premium’ - To give every child a fair start in life, the Liberal Democrats will spend an extra £2.5bn on schools, guaranteeing them the money they need to support children who are struggling. It will be targeted at schools taking on children who need more help and can be used to cut class sizes and make sure they get the individual support they need. Headteachers will be free to spend the extra money as they see fit. An average primary school could cut classes to 20, with a typical secondary school able to cut classes to just 16 or start a programme of catch-up classes for 160 pupils.

The best start for the youngest children – We will replace the bureaucratic Early Years Foundation Scheme with a slimmed down framework which includes a range of educational approaches and enough flexibility to suit the needs of every young child. We will also guarantee SEN tests for all 5-year olds to find out early on which children need extra help, and improve SEN training for teachers.

Better, reliable assessment – We will scale back Key Stage 2 tests at age 11, and use teacher assessment, with external checking, to improve the quality of marking.

Give pupils the freedom to choose what they want to study – We will create a General Diploma to bring GCSEs, A-Levels and high quality vocational qualifications together, enabling pupils to mix vocational and academic learning. We will also give 14-19 year olds the right to take up a course at college, rather than at school, if it suits them better.

Education Freedom Act – Teachers want to get the best from children but they are held back because of constant government interference which stops them from spending time with their pupils. The Liberal Democrats believe that all schools should be free from meddling politicians to work in creative and interesting ways to make sure every child gets a fair start in life. We will slim down the curriculum and pass an Education Freedom Act banning politicians from getting involved in the day to day running of schools.

Scrap unfair University Tuition Fees – To get a degree, young people are saddled with thousands of pounds of debt when it is tough enough to get a job, get on the housing ladder and make ends meet. The Liberal Democrats are the only party which believes university education should be free and admissions based on ability not bank balance. We will scrap unfair tuition fees for all students taking their first degrees saving them nearly £10,000 each. We have a financially responsible plan to phase fees out over six years, so that the change is affordable in these difficult economic times.