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Nick Clegg speaks out against Michael Gove's free schools

The Deputy Prime Minister is expected to say this week that he believes free schools have too much freedom.

In a move that will distance the Liberal Democrats from the Government’s policy on free schools, Mr Clegg will argue that free schools and academies must follow the national curriculum and employ qualified teachers.

Currently free schools, a model introduced by education secretary Michael Gove, are allowed to set their own curriculum and employment standards.

In a speech to a London school on Thursday, Mr Clegg will say, ‘Every parent needs reassurance that the school their child attends, whatever its title or structure, meets certain core standards of teaching and care’.

‘What’s the point of having a national curriculum if only a few schools have to teach it? Let’s teach it in all our schools. And what’s the point of having brilliant new food standards if only a few schools have to stick to the rules? Let’s have quality food in all our schools.

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