Tory school plans 'impractical'

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The proposals under review by Conservative leader David Cameron may also see 11-year-olds crammed in summer sessions to make up for lack of skills in reading, writing or arithmetic before going on to secondary school.

But schools minister Jim Knight attacked the proposals, saying they would "stigmatise the very children who need extra help".

Shadow Children, Schools and Families Secretary Michael Gove stressed making 11-year-olds stay back rather than go on to secondary schools would be "very much a backstop".

But he told Sky News: "We can't have children going from primary school into secondary school without the skills necessary to make the most of what they are going to be taught in secondary schools. What's the benefit of sending them to secondary school if they can't benefit from what they will be taught there?"

The proposals for remedial summer schools or staying back a year will be contained in a policy document on public services to be published by the Conservatives next week. They are not formal party policy but will be considered for inclusion in the next Tory manifesto.

Mr Cameron said the radical move could form part of a "genuine schools" revolution to drive up standards of literacy and numeracy, and improve discipline.

In an article for the Sunday Telegraph, the Conservative leader also backed calls for an "advantage premium" which would see headteachers' budgets boosted for taking youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Mr Knight hit back, saying: "Like the old 11-plus, proposals for what the Tories have called a remedial year would stigmatise the very children who need extra help. They would also increase class sizes and make it impossible for teachers and parents to plan ahead. Instead of impractical gimmicks that haven't been thought through, we need policy that works."

Liberal Democrat children, schools, and families spokesman David Laws said: "David Cameron's plan to force children who are not performing well in primary schools to stay on to resit their final year is badly thought out and completely ignores the evidence from other countries."