Tories set out education reform plans
Ruth Smith
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The shadow children's secretary has pledged to do more to attract top graduates to teaching.
In a speech that sets out how the Conservative Party would change education policy if it wins the next election, Michael Gove said: "We're committed to a comprehensive programme of reform to improve the prestige of teaching and ensure better rewards for professionals who make a difference."
He pledged to change the rules on detention to "restore order in schools" and to make it easier for teachers to confiscate mobile phones and iPods from pupils.
"We would give teachers better protection from vexatious complaints - including anonymity when allegations of abuse are made," he added.
Other pledges include allowing schools to "insist on enforceable home-school contracts" to make sure parents play their part in ensuring good behaviour.
Gove also pledged to make academy status the norm in secondary education to free schools to pay good teachers more.
Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "Offering financial incentives may have a minor effect but the problems that face teachers on a daily basis in the classroom are the issues that cause many to decide to leave the profession."
She added: "If money were put into reducing class sizes, ending the punitive system of testing and reducing workload then teachers would be able to get on with the profession they chose to do, which is teach."
