Free Schools open for first intake of pupils: Nick Clegg speech

Free Schools open for first intake of pupils: Nick Clegg speech; ENGLAND: London: Southfields Community College: INT Nick Clegg MP (Deputy Prime Minister) speech SOT - Today is the first Monday back for teachers and pupils up and down the country. A day always marked by renewed optimism. Pupils plan to work harder. Teachers come back refreshed. And all parents - I know this myself - have the best intentions for the months ahead: whether that means making sure you are there for sports day and the class play. Or finding that bit of time at the end of the day to help with homework. Just doing whatever you can to give your children some extra support. - This year, there is a feeling of optimism in Government too. The Coalition has made some big changes to our education system. To improve the quality, choice and opportunities available to families. And we're looking forward to seeing those take root. The problem with new-term-enthusiasm, however, is: it does not always last. It isn't shared by everyone. And, as a society, we tend to let it fade too quickly. Replacing our high hopes with an equally familiar fatalism. We allow ourselves to believe some basic assumptions as if they are facts of life. There are good schools, and there are bad schools. Some children are bound to do well - the brightest, the wealthiest. The troublemakers, the children from the tougher neighbourhoods, will inevitably lag behind. Most parents will at least try to take an active interest. But the daily grind will often get in the way. And a difficult, uninterested minority will never be brought on board. That's the way things are. The way they have always been. And, notwithstanding some improvements here and there. The way they always will be. I don't accept that. There is some truth to these assumptions - because they are based on consistent patterns. But they are not inevitable. And we do the next generation a disservice by cursing them with our low expectations. Sometimes ...