"We will be ambitious for every child"

9.15.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 29th Apr 2005

Crosby's Liberal Democrat candidate, Jim Murray, has been setting out his party's priorities for education. "We will be ambitious for every child," he said.

"Rather than just the attack the policies of the other parties, we Liberal Democrats are putting clear choices before the British people. In education, we are saying that we would stop the £1.5 billion Child Trust Fund and instead invest the money in cutting class sizes." The aim would be to cut infant class sizes from the present maximum of 30 to an average of 20 and junior class sizes to an average of 25.

He also said the Liberal Democrats would free up teachers to spend more time on teaching than testing. Compulsory testing at seven and eleven would be scrapped.

Our education spokesman, Phil Willis, was himself a head teacher

Murray welcomed the findings of an Independent newspaper opinion poll, which suggested that more and more teachers are turning to the Liberal Democrats. "Our policies for schools are supported by an increasing number of those at the chalk-face," he said. "Our education spokesman, Phil Willis, was himself a head teacher, so he knows at first hand the challenges facing both staff and pupils in our schools."

"There are some excellent schools in Crosby constituency, as a result of the dedication of those who work in them," Jim Murray said. "I believe we can do even better, not least for those turned off by academic schooling. We would give all students over 14 the choice of combining vocational and academic learning."