The most appealing aspect of an often bizarre Conservative election platform was the proposal to make it far easier for new schools to enter the state-funded sector. Under Tory proposals, anyone who passes regulatory muster can set up a school and bid to attract pupils, who will come neatly packaged with state funding. The Conservatives want to expand dramatically the range of choices, introducing new, innovative schools and perhaps reinvigorating older schools with the bracing winds of competition. But will it work?
英国保守党的竞选政纲常常有些异想天开，但其中最具吸引力的一项提议，是大大降低新学校享受财政拨款的教育领域的难度。根据保守党的提案，任何通过监管机构审批的人都能成立学校招生，而学生们均将获得政府资助。保守党希望明显扩大选择范围，引入创新型新学校，也许还能通过良性竞争，让老一些的学校重新焕发活力。但这管用吗？
The Conservatives point to Sweden and to the US, both of which have introduced policies along these lines. In their manifesto they wrote that in Sweden, “standards have risen across the board as every school does its best to satisfy parents”. The evidence is more ambiguous than that. Early studies of the Swedish reforms looked impressive; more recent work has raised some questions.
保守党人提到已出台类似政策的瑞典和美国。他们在宣言中写道，在瑞典，“由于每所学校都尽力满足家长的要求，行业水准得到全面提高”。可证据并不像他们所说的这般明确。有关瑞典改革的早期研究看上去有理有据；但后来的研究就反映出了不少问题。