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Tories promise 'elite' teachers Tories promise 'elite' teachers
(10 minutes later)
The Conservatives are promising to make teaching "brazenly elitist" by improving the quality of graduates entering the profession.The Conservatives are promising to make teaching "brazenly elitist" by improving the quality of graduates entering the profession.
Leader David Cameron will say there will be financial help with training only for those with second-class degrees or better.Leader David Cameron will say there will be financial help with training only for those with second-class degrees or better.
The Tories also say they will seek to persuade high flyers from other professions to enter the classroom.The Tories also say they will seek to persuade high flyers from other professions to enter the classroom.
These schemes will make teaching a "high-prestige" job, the Tories argue. But Labour called the plans an "airbrushed re-announcement".
Labour and the Conservatives are vying for the middle-class vote at the forthcoming general election, which is widely expected to happen on 6 May. The main parties are vying for the middle-class vote at the forthcoming general election, which is widely expected to happen on 6 May.
'Restore esteem''Restore esteem'
The government is expected to announce plans to encourage top professions and universities to attract people from deprived backgrounds Labour is expected to announce plans to encourage top professions and universities to attract people from deprived backgrounds
However, in his speech, Mr Cameron is expected to emphasise the importance of teaching to children's education and how to get more good teachers into the classroom. However, in his speech, Mr Cameron will emphasise the importance of teaching to children's education and how to get more good teachers into the classroom.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
The plans include raising the required standard of entry and setting up a Teach Now scheme to encourage people who have succeeded in other professions to go into education. This would include raising the required standard of entry and setting up a Teach Now scheme to encourage people who have succeeded in other professions to go into education.
The student loan repayment scheme will only apply to graduates getting a first-class or higher second-class degree, Mr Cameron will say.The student loan repayment scheme will only apply to graduates getting a first-class or higher second-class degree, Mr Cameron will say.
Shadow education secretary Michael Gove told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that in some countries, such as Finland, teaching was restricted to top-level graduates.Shadow education secretary Michael Gove told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that in some countries, such as Finland, teaching was restricted to top-level graduates.
He said: "What we want to do is restore esteem to teaching, to make it an unashamedly elitist profession."He said: "What we want to do is restore esteem to teaching, to make it an unashamedly elitist profession."
Mr Gove added that the Tory plans would raise the "respect" with which teachers are regarded.Mr Gove added that the Tory plans would raise the "respect" with which teachers are regarded.
But raising standards did not have to involve significant salary increases, he added. 'Transformed'
Raising standards did not have to involve significant salary increases, but should focus more on professional respect, he added.
For Labour, Schools Secretary Ed Balls called the Tories' proposals an "airbrushed re-announcement of existing policies".
He added: "David Cameron also needs to do his homework. Despite his claims, Teach First [an existing government scheme] is exclusively focused on fast-tracking the best graduates into the most challenging urban schools."
Mr Balls also said: "The fact is that teaching has been transformed from a demoralised profession in 1997 to the number one choice for graduates today.
"To attract top professionals to make a career change into teaching we are already working with over 400 leading employers, focusing on key subjects like maths and science.
"And to put teaching on the same footing as high-status professions like doctors and lawyers we are introducing a new Licence to Practice with a right for all teachers to get ongoing training and career development. It's time the Tories backed these reforms."