Tories' draft education manifesto

18 January 2010

Responding to the focus on teacher quality in the Conservative Party's draft education manifesto, James Westhead, Director of External Relations at Teach First said:

"Teach First was founded in the belief that the most important factor in addressing educational disadvantage and ensuring a top rate education for all is teacher quality. Since 2002, we have worked with stakeholders from across the corporate and policy world and the political spectrum to devise a programme which has been successful in attracting some of the UK's most talented graduates to teach in England's most challenging schools. We will continue to work with all three political parties to develop this work. Having seen the impact of excellent teachers in the classroom, we welcome the Conservatives' plan to explore new ways to get the UK's brightest people into schools, teaching children from all backgrounds.

However, it is important to remember that the key ingredient in great teaching is not just top academic scores - we need to ensure teachers in UK schools are highly motivated, have high expectations for their pupils, and are highly trained to be experts in teaching practice and in their subjects. We therefore support a mixed economy in teacher training which provides all those who possess the right attributes with the opportunity and support to enter the classroom and make maximum impact on learning."