David Cameron and Michael Gove have reaffirmed the Conservatives' commitment to create a new generation of state schools with small class sizes and strong discipline.
They were speaking at a rally held by a group of parents in Kirklees, Yorkshire. The group is campaigning for a new local high school for the community on the site of a local middle school that is being closed by the Government.
Over a thousand parents marched to the site of the school and held a rally calling for the Government to listen to their demands for a new school.
Cameron spoke to them about their shared ideas of what makes a good school.
"It’s a smaller school where the head teacher knows your child’s name. It’s a school where there are good standards of discipline, a school where they teach the basics so we open children’s minds to all the best things that have been written and said".
"It’s a school where there’s really high aspiration, we don’t accept second best we say that everyone can go all the way. It’s a school where we have common sense and we recognise that you’ve got to stretch the brightest pupils, you’ve got to help those falling behind. We all know what a good school looks like and it’s that good school that you want."
He promised that a Conservative government "will help make your dreams come true; a new school, a good school, a school that’s there for your community because you’re prepared to put your effort in to it and your Government should get behind you and help you rather than stand in your way".
Click here to read David's speech in full
Michael Gove criticised the Government for ignoring local people, closing many local schools, and forcing childre into huge titan schools that parents dislike. In contrast, he said the Conservatives will "create a new generation of independent smaller state schools with smaller classes".
"They will be funded by taxpayers but run by teachers who know the children’s names and are responsible to parents – not run by politicians. This will give all parents - not just the rich - what they want: smaller schools with smaller classes, good behaviour, great teachers and restored confidence in the curriculum."
Lesley Surman from the local BBG Parents' Alliance said they had been campaigning for a new school for years.
"We’ve held rallies, marches, car convoys and demonstrations at the local council. We’ve had over three thousand parents pledge their support for a new school and have worked with education experts and teachers to ensure our school will be successful. Yet the Government keeps turning us down".
"All we want is to keep our community together by having a good, small local school available to all."