Tories announce residential academies plan

Speaking at a lecture organised by children's charity Barnardo's, Gove promised that the Conservatives would expand the academy programme, with both residential and non-residential academies.

He also promised his party would improve the recruitment and rewards system for teachers and give teachers extra powers to improve pupil behaviour.

The new residential academies would offer vulnerable children "the very highest standards of education and care", he claimed.

But a government spokesman said that Labour is already expanding state-funded boarding places for disadvantaged children and young people.

He said academies in Wellington and Lincoln are planning to offer boarding places, a move that the government hopes other academies will follow.

He said: "Back in September we announced a multi-million pound expansion of places in the state boarding sector. It's gratifying to know that there is widespread support for these policies."