Now that we can study the full coalition agreement on education, it seems that the Conservatives have got through most of their reform agenda unscathed. The "statement of intent" that the new Education Secretary Michael Gove talked about during the campaign – the short, sharp bill to allow more schools to become academies – has been delivered. The general secretary of the Association of Schools and College Leaders John Dunford reckons that many secondary schools will opt for academy status, not just those declared "outstanding" by Ofsted whose applications for academy status will just go through on the nod.

Labour would not scrap them, either - even though it would like its proposed
new US-style report cards to replace them in the hearts and minds of parents.

The pre-election campaigning raged on today, with Gordon Brown setting out new
plans to encourage social mobility while David Cameron promised
Conservatives would boost schools by restoring the prestige of the teaching
profession.

A pledge to keep controversial tests for 11-year-olds and league tables will form a key plank of the Conservatives' election manifesto, their schools spokesman Michael Gove reveals today.

The Conservatives are promising to open a new type of "technical school" in 12 major cities across England.