Power to the profession

Each year, I survey the first year undergraduates I teach at York, asking them ‘What made you decide to study chemistry at university?’ Each year, the top response is the same: my chemistry teacher.

Everyone, from the secretary of state for education down, realises that teachers are what make the difference in education. I believe that if we want to get further improvement in education, it is best achieved from the bottom up rather than the top down. In other words, it is by treating teachers as true professionals and giving them control over their own standards and professional development.