More pupils going to university is a good thing, says senior Tory

In a wide-ranging interview with the Standard, Mr Gove dismissed criticisms of the expansion in higher education in recent years.

"More and more people going to university is an unalloyed good thing," he said.

"I do not buy the argument that more means worse. The argument put around by Kingsley Amis and others that for a university experience to be valuable requires less than half the population to go there, just isn't right."

Asked if he might be judged unconservative by traditionalists who favour fewer students progressing to higher education, Mr Gove, a leading supporter of David Cameron, said: "You can have more people going on to education and being better taught. To that extent, it is an unconservative view. There shouldn't be a cap on aspiration."

As record A-level results brought renewed criticism of grade-inflation, he distanced the Conservatives from critics saying: "I don't think intrinsically that it means that. Pupils are being better advised and those being presented are well prepared. They are working hard and the pass rate reflects that." Challenged that many top universities had expressed concerns about the glut of Agrade results, Mr Gove replied: "I don't think it is right for me to pass definitive judgment saying that this is unsustainable. But you can't ignore the fact that universities like Cambridge are setting their own exams. We need to see how that pans out."

The Conservatives have appointed Imperial College rector Sir Richard Sykes to review the examination system.

He signalled that the Tories are preparing to return to social mobility as a key theme, after retreating from it in the wake of the bruising argument over grammar schools last year.

"More people in higher education from backgrounds where that has not been the norm is also a good thing. We have to make sure it is not only the best groomed or best connected who are able to study, but also those who have untapped potential. One striking statistic we have unearthed is that of those on free school meals, only 176 got three A grades at A level. That is still an obvious cause for concern.

"My approach is governed by the belief that there is a significant number who should enjoy a traditional academic education but who are not getting that chance."

Signalling an overhaul of the Government's "gifted and talented programme" if the Conservatives win power, Mr Gove said the existing scheme was flawed, because it had delivered "only patchy provision" .

"On objective measurements, a lot of pupils are not performing well when tested, so that is an odd outcome for a scheme intended to identify and bring on the talented child."

The Government's decision to cap testing of 11-year-olds at level 5, because so few children had achieved level 6 SAT results, was a "serious error". "They are not allowing the very gifted and talented to have their ability recognised so they can be truly stretched." In comments calculated to play on Labour's internal divisions on policy, he added, "We are doing a lot of the things that Blair tried to deliver. You had a reforming PM who came to the conclusion that what you need is greater diversity and choice in the state system. I share that view - the difference is we can realise it."

Challenged on how long it would take a Tory government to show results from its plans to encourage greater diversity in the state sector, he admitted the outcome of the so-called "Swedish model" of more small schools would be variable.

"In some local authorities in London, up to 50 per cent of parents are unhappy with their choice of secondary school. If you have a system of limited excellence, there is an obvious opportunity for a new provider to come in. I think in boroughs like Lewisham with aspirational working-class parents, the schools could be transformed in this way. But it will take time - I can't say we will have reached nirvana by this or that date."