An education chief is calling on ministers to allow children to swap schools at the age of 14.

Graham Lane, the education chairman of the Local Government Association, will put forward the idea when he meets council leaders next month.

His remarks could form part of the local authorities' response to the government's green paper on education in England, which called for a big expansion of specialist schools.

The government aims to increase the number of specialist schools from the present level of 535 to 1,500 by 2006.

There needs to be a revolution of curriculum

Graham Lane, education chairman of the local government association

Specialist schools are secondary schools which follow the national curriculum, but also specialise in subjects ranging from the arts to business and science.

But Mr Lane said children of 11 were too young to specialise and should follow a basic education and only specialise from 14 onwards.

He believes there should be more choice for teenagers in the curriculum.

Mr Lane told BBC News Online that part of that choice should be the chance to specialise at 14, perhaps through transferring to a specialist school.

Revolution in curriculum

Mr Lane said: "There needs to be a revolution of curriculum.

"The age of 11 is not the appropriate age for young people to choose between, say, sport, languages and technology.

"The most important reform is to make sure all students have the opportunity after the age of 14 to do a mix of vocational and academic courses."

Graham Lane said he favoured a shake-up of the curriculum in favour of a modular system similar to that used in Canada, where children pass various modules to get qualifications.

"Children could then take their modules with them when they moved schools," he said.

"Let's have a proper debate so that we don't undermine the principle of comprehensive education but do cater for the different needs of students so different talents can be developed."

The Secondary Heads Association said many specialist schools would not be able to admit children at 14 because they were popular and over-subscribed.