Press Release

GTC comments on education reform proposals

20 October 2005

Speaking on the Government’s education reform proposals, General Teaching Council for England Chief Executive Carol Adams says:

“Every parent knows that the most important influences on their child’s education are inspiring teachers and dynamic head teachers.  Every child has an entitlement to high quality teaching and a broad and balanced curriculum.  Early intervention, one to one tuition, mentoring and above all investment in high quality teaching and teaching support hold the key to raising achievement for all pupils.

“Although some schools in challenging circumstances are improving fast, the most disadvantaged pupils in those schools are still lagging behind.  For these children, further structural reform may be at best irrelevant and at worst leave them further disadvantaged as better placed parents benefit from the Government’s choice agenda. 

“The Children Act is driving the creation of coherent local services to help disadvantaged and vulnerable children.  The White Paper proposals must not undermine this effort.

“Parental involvement and stimulus are important and welcome but we cannot fairly expect parents, whose primary concern must be opportunities for their own child, to carry the burden of ensuring that schools deliver every child’s entitlement to good teaching and an appropriate curriculum.“