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Scottish Conservatives outline education plans
10 March 2010
The Scottish Conservatives have announced a "radical" shake-up of state education should the party come to power at the next election.
According to the opposition party, a Scottish Conservative-led Executive would decentralise power over publicly funded schools, handing greater powers to local authorities and organisations in charge of individual education establishments.
Shadow Minister for Children, Schools and Skills Liz Smith MSP said: "If we want standards to go up, we must break the current monopoly the state has over the provision of education, give teachers more control and give parents more choice."
She also confirmed that the Scottish Conservatives would follow the lead of their counterparts south of the border by implementing the 'free schools' scheme currently being promoted by Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Michael Gove MP.
Ms Smith is the Scottish Conservative representative for the constituency of Perth, which she has represented since 2007.