Blunkett resigns - education perspective

Thursday 16th December 2004 at 00:00

Ruth Kelly, 36, becomes the youngest of Blair's Cabinet after he promoted her from the Cabinet office to become education secretary following David Blunketts resignation.

Mr Blunkett quit as home secretary on Wednesday after an e-mail emerged showing a visa application for his ex-lover's nanny had been fast-tracked.

Party Response: Conservative

Tim Collins, shadow education secrtary said: "The new ministerial team at the Department for Education (DfES) promises action, but their records show they are all talk. In the last four years Mr Blair has had four Labour Secretaries of State and yet still one in three 11-year olds are unable to write properly and a million children play truant a year. If there were prizes for ministerial turnover the DfES would be number one but on every other measure it’s bottom of the class."

Party Response: Liberal Democrats

Phil Willis MP, Liberal Democrat education spokesman said: "Among the main losers in this reshuffle are the nations students, teachers and lecturers.

"With huge reforms of schools, colleges, universities and training systems ahead, losing not only the Secretary of State but also the Minister of State at the same time leaves a catastrophic gap.

"This reshuffle comes only months after another key minister Alan Johnson left the department.

"Ruth Kelly has no direct experience in the DFES and will take time to settle into her role. At a time when the education system is in a state of perpetual revolution the DFES needs consistent and visionary leadership not a 'sticking plaster' until after a General Election."

Stakeholder Response: NASUWT

Chris Keates, general secretary of NASUWT, said:"Frank, robust and determined but always approachable, it was a pleasure to work with Charles Clarke.

"He has been an impressive Education Secretary and I have no doubt he will do an equally effective job in the Home Office.

"No-one who comes into contact with David Miliband can fail to be impressed by his mastery of his brief, his grasp of detail and his willingness to respond positively to cogent argument.

"It was evident such a talented Minister was destined to move on.

"Ruth Kelly is an unknown quantity as far as education is concerned.However, she comes with a reputation for having a sharp intellect and a willingness to listen.I warmly welcome her appointment and look forward to working with her in the context of the social partnership which is delivering such significant benefits to pupils, teachers and the education service."

Stakeholder Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) said: "We welcome Ruth Kelly’s appointment as secretary of state for education. Her meteoric rise through the Labour ranks is testimony to her abilities.

"ATL wants to continue to work in partnership with the government to raise standards for all pupils. We look forward to meeting Ruth Kelly and getting on with the job together."

Stakeholder Response: Professional Association of Teachers

Jean GemmellPAT general secretary said: "We congratulate Ruth Kelly on her appointment as Education Secretary and wish her and David Miliband's successor success in dealing with the many challenges facing education, in particular taking forward the 14-19 reforms after the Tomlinson Report, implementing the Children Act and the expansion of childcare, and developing the school workforce remodelling agenda.

"We hope that the abrupt removal of two key ministers from the DfES in this chop and change reshuffle will not destabilise or dilute progress in these key measures.

"Charles Clarke has been a strong advocate of the Government's education reforms and a tough but fair negotiator.David Miliband has been a dedicated, skilful and perceptive minister. They will be hard acts to follow. We wish them both well in their new roles."

Stakeholder Response: Forum of Private Business

Nick Goulding Forum of Private Business chief executive said: "The FPB will be looking to Ruth Kelly to improve the basic standards of numeracy and literacy among our young people. FPB members are telling us that too many youngsters are coming out of the school system ill-equipped to do a job of work."

Stakeholder Response: National Union of Teachers

Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers said: "I was only just getting to know Charles Clarke and to respect him. I wish him well in his new role.

"Ms Kelly’s appointment and that of the new Minister of State brings new faces and new opportunities for the department. I look forward to meeting her and establishing a positive working relationship and allows the views of the largest teachers’ organisation in the UK to be heard in the department.

"I am writing to Ms Kelly to seek an early meeting."

Stakeholder Response: General Teaching Council

Carol Adams GTC chief executive said : "We look forward to working with the new Ministerial team to support teacher professionalism and to promote effective teaching practice.Alongside our role in ensuring the effective regulation of the teaching profession in the public interest, the GTC's top priorities are improving teachers' access to high quality continuing professional development and securing a new approach to assessment that better supports pupil learning and development.

"It is a measure of the government's continuing strong focus on education that a Minister of the calibre of Ruth Kelly has been asked to take the work forward.We have seen Stephen Twigg in action in London with a coherent approach to improving education provision for all our children. We look forward to working with him to take that work forward more widely.

"Charles Clarke and David Miliband were an extremely effective team, combining a passionate interest in the needs of the whole child with a determined commitment to raising standards of achievement and achieving equity.

"We look forward to discussing our proposals with Ms Kelly and Mr Twigg."

Stakeholder Brief | Thu 16th Dec 2004 |