Oi Gove!

Gove says that teachers need to be more committed and work more. I don't think he's ever been into a school for more than 5 minutes, let alone lived and seen through the eyes of a teacher for any reasonable length of time.

I work with an incredibly dedicated group of professionals who's sole aim is to improve, enrich and raise the enjoyment of their pupils' education. It's not an easy job, and yes it does also come with some nice benefits such as the holidays (often spent working). However, I spent 10 years in various business environments and am well into my 6th year of teaching - having been in both worlds, I can honestly say that teaching is much more draining, but also so much more rewarding.

This is Mrs H still working hard at 20:00 tonight. I have just finished, and from an 08:00 start this morning you can see that it's been a long one (this is normal).

Oi Gove: cutting pensions, increasing working hours, lengthening working age, slashing budgets, 'free' schools..... not one of these will help any child, and THAT should be the focus of education. I always think that education should be heavily funded with the acceptance of a HUGE financial loss at the immediate school level. This is because the returns in later life, both financial and more importantly social, will be immense. Now that's an investment worth making.