Statement on Conservatives' and Clegg's education plans

20 November 2007

The General Secretary of the Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) has commented on education plans outlined by the Conservative Party and by Liberal Democrat  leadership contender Nick Clegg.

Commenting on the Conservatives' proposals, Philip Parkin said: "These are disappointingly familiar. They seem to be variations on the Government's twin obsessions of Academies and testing.

"We would like to see greater investment in all schools - not just in a few so-called flagships - and a greater emphasis on the professional skills of teachers and support staff rather than yet more tests.

"PAT is also concerned about the Conservatives' target of all children reading by the age of six. This doesn't take into account the different speeds at which children develop. We don't want to see children labelled as 'failures' for not meeting an artificial target dreamt up by politicians to make headlines. Early education is about preparing the ground for young children to develop skills such as reading when they are ready and able to do so.

"We have been concerned for some time by politicians' headlong rush to push children into formal education at a very early age when the more measured, less formal approach to early education and care practised in other parts of Europe and in Wales is more beneficial to children's long-term development.

"Schools already have powers to confiscate pupils' property where appropriate to promote good discipline, so that's not new."

Commenting on Nick Clegg's idea of teacher's being contactable outside school hours, as reported by The Guardian
[http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2213695,00.html], Philip Parkin said: "Teachers will be alarmed by the rather sinister-sounding requirement to 'fit' with 'modern working practices' and be contactable outside working hours. Which 'practices' are these?

"The Government says that it is committed to improving employees' work-life balance and much work has been done through the Social Partnership to advance this.

"Teachers already work outside 'normal' working hours, marking homework, preparing lessons and attending parents' evenings."