The government and Microsoft plan to change education in order to equip the UK with skills for the increased importance of the knowledge economy.

At the Government Leaders Forum in Edinburgh, Microsoft said it would roll out its Innovative Schools programme in 12 locations, including the UK and Ireland. The schools use whiteboards, tablet PCs, web conferencing and other tools in an effort to transform the learning experience.

Microsoft will work with Kent, Knowsley, Lewisham, Sandwell and Sheffield to build out the plans.

“It’s important to be humble because there were many pronouncements that TV, video or computer-aided instruction [would change the face of education] and it really didn’t happen but [this will],” said Bill Gates, Microsoft chairman.

“For the first time, teachers will be learning from each other. This takes the teacher’s job [away from being isolated].”

Gates said tablet PCs would play a big role. “Tablets will be available for hundreds of dollars and become the common tool for people going to meetings and students taking to class.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown said the UK needed to increase spending on education for youngsters but also mature workers in order to compete in a world of increased globalisation. “The answer to globalisation is not protectionism, or to stop the clock but to invest more in science and technology and continue to upskill people.”

Brown reiterated earlier calls for children to begin schooling at the age of three and be encouraged to stay until 18.

Brown said the government planned a nationwide campaign and declared himself “ready to consider new incentives”.

He also called for more “lifelong learning” chances for mature workers to add new skills. “Opportunity is not a one-off pass/fail that stops at 11 or 16,” he added. Several European leaders said education would be critical to compete but others said new incentives and less legislation were also necessary.

“We need to do away with European bureaucratic overkill,” said Gregor Virant, minister for public administration in Slovenia.