Charles Clarke recently gave teachers "a small pat on the back"

The Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, has called for a more interesting school curriculum in an address to a teachers' conference.

His comments come amid rising concern over Britain's poor staying-on rate at 16 compared with other developed countries.

He told the NASUWT conference in Llandudno that he wanted to see every child taught in every subject by a teacher who was "able, passionate, and well-supported" - though there is currently a lack of subject specialists.

Mr Clarke said a national director for each main subject would be appointed to devise a development strategy.

Curriculum focus

But he believed the curriculum was much wider than what was taught in the classroom.

So he wanted to see all schools offering the kind of things that the better ones do already - such as pre-school and lunchtime activities and after-school sport or dance, and residential trips like those offered through the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

There was also a proposal - dubbed a "gateway" - for schools to link with voluntary organisations, museums, environmental or dance groups.

But he did not announce any new funding for these initiatives.

Mr Clarke arrived in Llandudno on Tuesday evening for what is his only visit to any of the big three Easter teachers' gatherings.

He pointedly snubbed the biggest union, the NUT, last year - and again this year said he had better things to do on Easter Sunday.