At different times I taught humanities, social sciences and pre-vocational education.
Before this government came to power, many failing schools were simply allowed to drift on in a pattern of continuing failure. The government is determined to break that pattern and is successfully doing so.
But I don't think that the private sector has all the answers or that we should change the way we value the public sector.
By creating useful job descriptions and making clear what qualifications should be expected, the Department aims to help improve schools' ability to recruit the right people.
Headteachers and governing bodies run schools and that won't change.
However, the Government has made it clear that we do not encourage the recruitment of teachers from developing nations where there may be an adverse effect on the economy.
I am confident that the vast majority of teachers will work with us towards achieving that goal.
I do recognise that, where recruitment difficulties persist, teachers can be put under great pressure.
I know there are things I did in education that will never be reversed. I have not done that in film yet because I have only been here for about nine months.
I taught for 17 years in an inner city comprehensive schools.
I think film is a very powerful advocate and message carrier.
I want to give producers more financial security.
I was head of the Sixth Form Centre when I left the school.
If bringing up the next generation is important, why aren't they the best qualified, the best paid? Why aren't we as concerned about their career progression as we are about those who work in the education or health services?
If we can modernise the workforce, make them better qualified, have this framework of qualifications, then I think they have a very good case for more money.
If you invent the Mini Cooper, pour all your energy and passion into it and it gets made, you should be on a roll. In the film industry you have to start again the next day.
In the 21st century when few of us stay in the same job all our lives, I would like to think there was flexibility so teachers could become social workers, or foster carers become teachers.
It is a very unusual sector and the one thing I would ask of them is to understand that for most of them one-third of their films are being financed by the taxpayer and that carries huge accountability and responsibility.
My Department has already recognised this and has been working specifically on the technical support issue since January and will offer advice to schools during the Autumn term.
My focus and that of all members of the Government responsible for delivering services to the public is to make sure that the public sector can use all the skills it needs to do the job the public wants it to do.
OFSTED has made large cuts in the paperwork which schools are asked to provide and further steps to reduce the bureaucratic burden will be introduced in September.
Performance tables are an important part of raising standards in schools and they are an easily accessible source of valuable information to parents.
The big goal is what everyone says to me: British film finance needs restructuring.
The most effective schools are now inspected less intensively and less frequently than those which are not doing so well.
The need for improved technical support in schools has expanded as the Government and schools have increased their investment in information and communications technologies.
There is a shortage of teachers but the January 2001 schools census showed that teacher numbers were at their highest level than at any time since 1984 - and 11,000 higher than 1997.
There is nothing wrong with becoming more ambitious along the way, but I think what the government has asked the council to do is a perfectly good starting point.
This government has always said increasing pay is something for something.
We do recognise the need to move towards the publication of information showing the progress made by pupils from one stage of their education to another.
We have twice reduced the period of notice before an inspection so that it is now no more than ten weeks, down from up to five terms in 1997.
Well-qualified teachers from abroad who choose to come to schools in this country can make an important contribution to our schools.
What politicians want to create is irreversible change because when you leave office someone changes it back again.
Where the private sector, or anyone else, has skills, knowledge and resources that can help to deliver a high quality of education and to raise standards, we should use them.
You have got to attract the brightest and the best, but the brightest and best won't stay unless they see real career options.
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