WELSH Conservatives are looking into introducing a programme of 'Free Schools' or academies in Wales. In a keynote speech today, the Leader of the Official Opposition Nick Bourne will unveil the party's plans to reform the Welsh education system.

After ten years of Labour Assembly Governments, it is clear the education system has fallen into a desperate state.

The figures speak for themselves:

• In 2008, 55.8% of students gained five or more A*‐C grades at GCSE – compared with 65.3% in England,
• GCSE achievement gap grew from 6% in 2007, to 9.5% in 2008,
• 700 pupils left school in 2008 with no qualifications,
• a backlog of £700mn worth of repairs needed on school buildings,
• 55,200 young people not in any recognised form of training, education or employment.
• £8.7mn a year being spent on free school breakfasts despite an independent review concluding the scheme was not reaching 'those children most in need'

Welsh Conservatives believe the current situation is untenable and want to renew the focus on long‐term development and re‐engaging children in learning, which is why the party's going to start consulting on Free Schools.

The programme would award academy‐like freedoms to Headteachers, their staff and governors and honour that by giving them control of decisions concerning budgets, maintenance, teaching, parts of the curriculum and administration.

Nick Bourne said:

"I am delighted to be announcing that the Welsh Conservatives are going to begin consulting on a free school initiative for Wales.

"Educational reform is desperately needed in Wales if we are to stop the growing achievement gap between students here and in England.

"Welsh Conservatives believe that the best way to improve the life chances of children in Wales would be to trust the professionals and teachers to do the job that they know best.

Shadow Education Minister Paul Davies added:

"There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that freeing up schools to make their own decisions leads to a wide range of positive outcomes and a wave of curricula and academic innovation.

"Some schools may choose to spend money getting class sizes down, or on extra classroom assistants or new technology.

"Teachers might decide to use their expertise to teach pupils in three‐hour lecture blocks or work‐shop based lessons.

"As a party we're committed to giving young people in Wales the very best start in life and we're excited about the difference that this policy could make to the education system in Wales."