In his speech at the conference in Liverpool, Clegg admitted that the reforms had proved controversial, saying "it wouldn't be a Liberal Democrat conference if we didn't have a motion that provoked strong passions on both sides".
But defending the coalition's proposals for free schools and academies, Clegg made assurances that the plans would be fair and would stop selection in schools.
"My vision is that every school, in time, will be equal, every school equally free," he said. "But there's one freedom new schools shouldn't have. Freedom to select. The whole concept of our reforms falls apart if you use it to expand selection – because instead of children and parents choosing schools, you get schools choosing children. So we have made it absolutely clear we will allow people to set up new schools but we will not allow them to pick and choose the brightest. No to more selection."
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