The government's free schools policy will not lead to greater segregation, it has been claimed.
Delegates at the Liberal Democrat conference held in Liverpool this week voted to campaign against the policy amid concerns it will fuel social divisiveness and inequality.
Speaking to Channel 4 news, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said some of the misgivings expressed in the conference hall "slightly misunderstood what the government policy is going to do".
"I think there is a misunderstanding bluntly between what the free schools proposal is alleged to be trying to do and what it will actually do. It won't be taking resources and people and attention away from other schools... and crucially, as I stressed in my speech yesterday, it won't do what would be genuinely divisive," he commented.
It will not be introducing selection through the back door, Mr Clegg added.
However, the National Association of Headteachers said it has grave concerns about the government's free schools policy.
Related News
Register for day to day, long-term and permanent teaching jobs.
