The Prime Minister will say that this week marks a “pivotal moment in the life of this Parliament and this Government” which will take public sector reform to its “logical conclusion”.

The Education White Paper, published tomorrow, contains plans to free schools from the control of local education authorities, allowing them to expand, change the curriculum and set admission policies.

It is a step too far for many Labour MPs, who say it will destroy the comprehensive school ideal. They vow to vote against the Bill when it comes to the Commons next year.

But Mr Blair will today make clear that the system is about to change fundamentally.

“We want every school to be able quickly and easily to become self-governing, independent state schools — an opportunity not just open to a small number of schools, but to all who want it,” he will tell parents today at a meeting in Downing Street.

“The system will finally be opened up to real parent power with a series of irreversible and self-sustaining reforms.”

Mr Blair’s uncompromising language follows a week in which the new reforms were attacked by John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister.

At a stormy meeting last Wednesday, Mr Prescott savaged the White Paper, saying greater freedom was all very well for the top tier but would do nothing for declining inner-city schools attended by the poorest pupils. He also said that the plans failed to address the needs of the least well-off, whose parents did not know how to play the system and were content for their children to attend the nearest school.

Mr Blair will make clear today that there has been no watering down of the proposals, calling it a “recasting of state education”, and challenge his critics to accept that previous reforms have yielded results.

Sources at the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) said that the White Paper, Higher Standards, Better Schools for All, had already been printed and there was no question of any last-minute alterations in response to criticisms. Ruth Kelly, the Education Minister, was determined to give “freedom for schools and power for parents” to raise standards. Local authorities would be relegated to a role as commissioner of services in support of parents and pupils, but would not run schools.

The old borough boundaries would disappear, allowing pupils to travel to better schools. The least well-off would have their transport paid so they were not at a disadvantage.

Mr Blair will say today that from now on, schools will be free to develop “their own distinct ethos, involving external partners, business, employers and the voluntary sector”. The Government would be reduced to providing resources to local “change-makers” setting a framework of fair rules, and intervening only in cases of chronic failure.

Today’s speech is an opportunity for Mr Blair to restore his reforming credentials.

Last week he was furious when a deal on public sector pensions which preserved the retirement age for the existing workforce of 65, was presented as the Government “rolling over” to the unions. Labour is also anxious that the Conservatives don’t outpace them on education reform and say that the Government has been dragging its heels to placate the unions, Labour MPs and local authorities.

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