Webchat with Tristram Hunt, Labour education shadow, MONDAY 27 April at 12 midday

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

We’re pleased to announce that the first of our (three!) politics webchats this week will be with Tristram Hunt, the Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Labour candidate for Stoke-on-Trent Central.

As Shadow Education Secretary, Tristram has been been involved in policy issues ranging from teachers’ qualifications, free schools, and partnerships between state and private schools, to vocational education and leadership in education. He also got into a spot of bother concerning nuns when on BBC Question Time recently.

Tristram is also a history lecturer at Queen Mary University London, and has published several books, as well as presenting TV programmes about the English Civil War and Isaac Newton.

Do join us on Monday 27 April at 12pm for a live webchat with Tristram or post your questions in advance on this thread. And please remember our usual webchat guidelines.

Thanks
MNHQ

@greathat

Why when the conservatives have done such a thorough job of demoralising and alienating teachers, have the labour party not done more to show support for them?

Will you actually listen to the leading academics when putting together policies?

Will anything improve for teachers? I know so many who are leaving the profession, and those that are still in are trying very hard to find ways out!

Hi Greathat,

Thanks for questions.

Teaching is a really noble profession and I have made every effort to engage with teachers. I am in schools every week. It’s the best part of my job. I look forward to working in a constructive fashion with teachers, to raise the status and standing of the profession.

I want to see an end to the “initiativitus” that has seen curriculum changes made in year. We have to be guided by the evidence on what works. It’s clear to me from all of the research I am reading that the most important thing – for raising the educational performance across the country and for addressing the great divide within our education system – is for government to have a laser-like focus on improving the quality of teaching in the classroom. That’s why we have made such a big deal about ending the policy of allowing unqualified teachers into the classroom.

And on improving things for teachers – that starts with giving the profession the respect it deserves. So not talking down then profession as the ‘enemies of promise’ but celebrating the energy and innovation in schools. Celebrating the profession and being a partner, rather than a belligerent.
And we need a period of stability in our education system. I think those in the profession will welcome that.

@Springtimemama

I recently went to a local secondary school for an event (my dc are only pre school age) and saw a massive wall display all about levels. One whole large wall of the class room was dedicated to extolling pupils to improve their "level" - complete with thought bubbles saying 'ask yourself, what level am I working at today?' and 'remember, going up one level per x years is good progress'.

I found this rather depressing - I went to a very large comprehensive 25 years ago and was taught so well. This just seems like mechanistic jargon and putting the cart before the horse. Surely what matters is pupils developing a zest for learning and not teaching to the test.

Do you think the current obsession with progression against a mechanistic scale is in danger of taking the joy out of learning?

Hi Springtimemama

I do think an overly mechanistic approach to progression and education can take some of the enjoyment and delight of learning out of our education system. We think that levels are important as a guide to the progress and development of the child, but I share your hesitation about their overt dominance.

@greathat

Some academy chains are using our schools to make money for their individual board members www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-27238265 As a tax payer this is not where I want my money going? What are you doing to make sure this won't keep happening?

There are some absolutely brilliant academy chains which are driving up education standards for pupils. Delivering real innovation and doing great work to support the continued professional development of their teachers and support staff. But where there are questions about propriety, we will not hesitate to act swiftly to ensure the highest standards are upheld.

I also think that Ofsted should be given the powers to inspect academy chains. If I am Education Secretary, I will grant those powers.

@LizzieVereker

Why do you think that 40% of teachers leave the profession with in the first five years? How would you address the problem?

Hi LizzieVereker

It is totally wasteful of teachers’ ability, public finances and pupils’ learning to have this kind of waste and churn in our schools system. We need to recruit more graduates into teaching and we need to keep those who have taken on teaching as a profession in the job. The Labour Party looks forward to working with the profession to cut down on the bureaucracy getting in the way of teaching, easing up on the endless flow of policy initiatives from Government ministers, and having some stability in the Ofsted inspection criteria as a way of ensuring that teachers regain their love of the job.

@oneyorkshirepud

Figures often quoted state that 40%-50% of teachers leave teaching within the first five years. However, the latest figures (from the Department of Education) show that 40% of teachers don't even complete their first year of teaching. Further figures suggest that there are 4,000 teachers leaving the profession per month. Are you going to listen to teachers seriously and consider removing/reforming Ofsted? We are currently struggling to recruit to our 'good' school. (1 applicant for Head of Maths, 2 for Head of Science etc). There is a huge recruitment/retention crisis and all we hear are empty promises about 'training more graduates' (who don't stay in the profession) and 'reducing workload' which is the opposite of what we are seeing. Please come and spend a day teaching with me to see the pressures we really face.

No one ever has just one yorkshire pud? Thanks for post

This is a big challenge – how we attract, train and retain great teachers. Those with the passion to transform the life chances and opportunities for their pupils. But the current ‘exam factory model’ of education is crowding out innovation and limiting teachers’ freedoms. There is an emerging consensus about reforming Ofsted. I am very open to that discussion. Ofsted plays an important role – one that parents find valuable. But, as I have said, it needs to reform with the times and I am confident that there is huge appetite at Ofsted to evolve and reform and I want to work with Sir Michael Wilshaw on delivering this next phase of education reform.

@ElizabethHoover

he has a fine head of hair. Do you use product?

Thank you very much for the kind comment! Any credit for this must go to Jack - my hairdresser. In terms of tips, I would always recommend washing your hair before you go to bed!

@TwoLeftSocks

I have looked long and hard at training to be a teacher.

I have the right skills, useful career experience and love working with children but right now, with the pressure on teachers (I'm a governor so have seen behind the scenes), constant negativity from politicians, and a family of my own to look after, there's no way I'd sign up.

Teacher friends have said it's a different job to the one they sign up to and several good teachers I know have left the profession.

My question - what can you say to make me change my mind, or to my teacher friends who are thinking or leaving?

Hi TwoLeftSocks,

Well, there will certainly be no negativity from me when it comes to becoming a teacher. I think it is one of the most inspiring, demanding and enriching professions. I am full of admiration for those who take it up. My job in office will be to ensure that more and more people return to teaching as a career.

@RitaCrudgington

I should have a serious education question for TH but all I can thinnk is how much I resent him for his appalling act of sabotage on Sir Isaac Newton in the Greatest Britons poll. Never going to forgive him for that.

Hi RitaCrudgington,

I reject your question in its entirety. Mine was a loving, paean of praise to Sir Isaac and his essential place within the English Enlightenment.

@Rifalda

Hello, direct question: would the Council support paid third party professionals for extra curriculum activities at school, related with sports and physical education specifically Pilates for children in alignment with Change4live programmes?

Hi Rifalda,

Schools and councils can use the freedoms over their budgets to recruit sporting professionals into schools. I want to see schools bringing in people from all walks of life – sport, the arts, music, chefs to raise the aspirations and horizons for all young people. See my video on the importance of careers advice and our plan for supporting young people to get the careers advice and guidance that they need [] This applies to sport as much as other walks of life.

@TheAbbessofBarking

Hi Tristram

Michael Gove apparently has a handwritten list of Plantagenet monarchs who he thinks every British schoolchild should know about.

What one thing from British history pre-1914 would you say every schoolchild needs to know about?

I would opt for the English Civil War, a truly defining epoch in the history of ideas, the history of Britishness, and the beginnings of Britain’s more global ambitions. And rather than Michael’s monarchs, it’s important young people get to grips with Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector himself.

What are your views on performance pay for teachers? In my experience of Primary schools, many teachers do not teach their own class due to ability setting, so many are judged at the end of the year on the results of children they have not taught. Does it work or is it a flawed system?

Would he consider a root-and-branch review of autism education in this country? It's all a bit lacklustre, delivering poor results for our kids and we lag behind the US 30 years eg in our use of behavioural methods like ABA, which are pretty mainstream over there now.

@CrispyFern

Where do you think, in the world, has the best education system?

(Only out of interest, because I don't necessarily believe that the economy of the future will reward those who emulate the "best" education of today, even if everyone agreed on what it was!)

I think the mistake that education ministers can make is to go around the world and then seek to import those elements of other country’s education policies that they like the look of, without appreciating the full context and culture. Of course, there is much to admire in the education systems of Finland, Singapore and Massachusetts – but we also have much to be proud about here in the UK. So I am all for international inspiration, but we have to ensure that it fits into the slipstream of the English education system.

@jaynebxl

What will you do to even out school budgets across the country? Our county is right at the bottom of the pile and schools can't afford basics unless they're "lucky enough" to get lots of pupil premium money.

Hi jaynebxl,

I do think that the landscape of educational inequality is shifting and there are now parts of England - for example in Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire and Cambridgeshire - which are feeling particularly pressured on school funding. Historically, high-poverty, inner-urban areas have received the largest amount of funding, but now results in many of these areas is outstripping other parts of the country. So, over time, I would like to lessen the inequalities which exist in the current funding model to support those areas in greater need of investment.

Good afternoon Tristram!

Labour have said they will guarantee wraparound childcare at schools. Can you elaborate on this please? Particularly the idea that arts and sports organisations will run sessions for free, which I am yet to be convinced is anything other than pie in the sky wishful thinking which devalues the skills which arts and sports professionals bring. If they're not paid, it won't happen. Will the childcare be fully funded and designed to suit the children?

@alien11

My daughter is due to start school in September 2016 however the good schools that we would like her to attend are one form entry. We live 0.2 Miles from the school we want but it's impossible for people the same distance to get in. Surely it's time to expand the good schools to accommodate the expanding population? How can areas build hundreds of new homes but not expand schools? I have no idea where my daughter will go but I will have a massive fight to try and get her a place at the good school. In fact, it's simple she won't be able to get one of the 30 places...

I think the way in which commissioning new schools and new school places has been bonkers under this government. Decisions on new schools have been made by ministers in London. This makes no sense. I want decisions on new capacity devolved to local level. So decisions about new schools and new school places will be far more responsive to the needs of local areas.

There is another part to your question, which is what can government do to take under-performing or coasting schools to great schools? On this, I am very clear. It starts with a relentless focus on improving the quality of teaching in every classroom. That is why, with Labour, all teachers will have to become qualified and continually improve as a condition to remaining in the classroom. This focus on continued professional development is right for other high status professions and right for teaching.

Good luck in securing your daughter a place in a school that's right for you and your family.

Thanks for that response, precisely what I would have hoped for!

And well done answering so many questions, and so quickly. Some people come on and barely manage two or three.

@chosenone

Tristam Are you going to go into schools? Maybe the schools in Stoke on Trent, many of which are operating under challenging circumstances. Are you going to speak with a range of teachers, teaching assistants and students about their views on the ever changing landscape of education? Ask the students how they feel about linear GCSEs. Ask teachers about workload and the efficacy of data and constant assessment ? Unlike Gove, are you going to go to the chalkface. If you do, please have a long think about why some of the Academies (plenty in Stoke on Trent, thankfully not so many across the LA border where I am) have senior management observing and assessing teaching staff when they are not and have never been qualified teachers themselves. Please have a think about what actually benefits the child and what actually inspires them.

Hi chosenone,

This morning, before I entered MNHQ, I was at a primary school in Hornsey and Wood Green, with our Labour candidate Catherine West. It was an inspirational place, with a strong Head, excellent teaching ethos and a really rich curriculum. Every week I am in and out of primary, secondary, sixth form college, further education college and any other school I am invited into. You are absolutely right about the challenge facing education in Stoke-on-Trent, and the issue we have to deal with is retaining and attracting high quality teachers into the city, alongside establishing some stability in the leadership of our schools.

Hello Tristram

The IFS has said that under a Labour govt, we'd have a £30 billion deficit at the end of the next parliament - and yet Labour claims that they will balance the budget.

Clearly Labour are only referring to the current account, and not the capital account - disingenuous, at best.

Can you address the disparity between the IFS and Labour's line? I think a 5% defiicit is not untenable and will mean less severe cuts - but I don't like the way Labour isn't being up front about it.

@Roseformeplease

What lessons could be learned from England, for those of us involved in the Scottish education system where inequality is endemic.

Without being too party political, I really don’t think that the Scottish National Party have given this issue the energy it deserves. One of the signal achievements of the last Labour government was the London Challenge, a partnership of collaboration and challenge across the capital’s secondary schools, which did so much to raise attainment amongst disadvantaged communities. I think there is much to admire in the Scottish education system – not least the process of curriculum development and focus on teaching quality – but there is certainly more to be done in cities such as Glasgow to raise standards amongst the poorest pupils.

@bluerim

Do you, personally, believe in the fundamental principles that lie behind comprehensive education?

Hi, I absolutely believe in a comprehensive system of school admissions – so schools reflect the communities in which they exist.

Can you explain why you addressed Nicky Morgan as "love" during a debate in the House of Commons?

@BallroomWithNoBalls

Good afternoon Tristram!

Labour have said they will guarantee wraparound childcare at schools. Can you elaborate on this please? Particularly the idea that arts and sports organisations will run sessions for free, which I am yet to be convinced is anything other than pie in the sky wishful thinking which devalues the skills which arts and sports professionals bring. If they're not paid, it won't happen. Will the childcare be fully funded and designed to suit the children?

Hi BallroomWithNoBalls,

So much of the advantage that children from more prosperous backgrounds enjoy is as a result of the co-curricular activity - the sports, music, drama, art clubs - which their parents provide access to. Our ambition in office is to ensure that more children enjoy the opportunity to experience this enrichment. So what we’re saying is that every parent of a primary school child will have the right to ask for access to this kind of provision, either through their own school or a consortium of schools. What we can’t do is have the State pay for it all, so voluntary, charitable and private providers will step in as they do now. What we can do is to ensure that the infrastructure of the State - the school facilities - are utilised by as many young people as possible. I certainly find that schools with a high intake of Pupil Premium children are using some of those funds to provide breakfast and after-school clubs already.

Today has seen the launch of The Labour Charter for Culture & the Creative Industries and Harriet Harman said: 'Schools should not be outstanding without arts and creative engagement'. Can we be reassured that this has your support and that the DCMS and DfE will speak?!

What's your plan for free schools? Will the policy of opening new free schools be stopped?