Conservatives pledge return to 'traditional' teaching methods

Michael Howard has pledged a return to traditional teaching methods, using phonics to teach children how to read and write.

Speaking during an election campaign conference in London, the Conservative leader said that the methods would help to ensure that children of immigrants learnt how to speak English.

Mr Howard said: "There is overwhelming evidence to demonstrate that traditional teaching methods - phonics, arithmetic, times tables - are the most effective means of teaching children to read, write and add up. This is important for all children - but it is particularly important for those whose first language is not English. A common language is the most obvious binding element in any society. Without it, it is much harder for people to be active members of the community."

Mr Howard acknowledged that people could choose to speak their native language at home, but stresses that they should learn proper English as well.

Shadow Education Secretary Tim Collins said results in Scotland had proved that the use of phonics in teaching works best. He said: “What experts call 'synthetic phonics’ has been shown to improve pupils' reading scores dramatically in Scotland. Children are taught letter sounds and how they blend into words, before being taught letter combinations and to work from sounds to letters."

Mr Howard also said that the party would “root out” political correctness in schools and “replace it with the building blocks of knowledge that are essential to give every child their birthright: a decent education”.

Labour has also pledged to ensure that every child masters the education basics.

The Liberal Democrats have promised to recruit 21,000 extra primary school teachers and reduce class sizes.

(KMcA/GB)