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Tories aim to boost 'prestige and esteem' of teaching
Wed 03 Mar 2010
The Conservative Party have outlined how they plan to attract the most talented people into the teaching profession.
According to shadow schools secretary Michael Gove, it is necessary to raise the "prestige and esteem" of teaching.
He has therefore confirmed that a Conservative government would introduce a series of policies to improve pupil discipline that would shift power and authority back to the teacher.
This, he stated, would help teachers feel more secure in the classroom, which in turn would make the job more attractive and rewarding.
Mr Gove also suggested giving schools more flexibility over pay and conditions in order to reward teachers appropriately.
He said this would give schools the freedom to be able to attract teachers who specialise in certain areas, such as English, maths and science.
Mr Gove added that there is "overwhelming empirical evidence" which shows countries with the best-qualified teachers have the most successful education systems.
This comes after Conservative Party leader David Cameron said people taught by the best teachers make three times as much progress as those who are taught by the worst.
Stephen Hart, a solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood, commented: "The Conservative Party's proposals could see far-reaching change in the state education sector.
"They build upon the powers already given to voluntary-aided, foundation and, to a more limited extent, academies to run their own budgets and staffing requirements."
Mr Hart, who is also the clerk to the governors of a leading voluntary-aided school in London, continued: "In relation to pupil discipline, the proposal to remove the right of appeal to the local authority will welcomed by head-teachers and governors alike.
"The school will regain complete control of its exclusions policy; and governors' appeal bodies will not have their sensible decisions overturned by an external body."
