TWO Essex head teachers frustrated by government educational policy have helped to draw up a wish-list for politicians ahead of next year's General Election.
The Headteachers' Roundtable, a group of 12 influential head teachers from across the country, sent its own election manifesto to all the leading political parties on May 7.
The think-tank includes Tom Sherrington from King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, and Vic Goddard, the head of Passmores Academy in Harlow of TV's Educating Essex.
"Without wanting to sound facetious, the proposals are common sense so we would be surprised if the parties do not take some of them up and put them in their manifestos," Mr Sherrington told the Chronicle.
"We have called it a manifesto and it is aimed at all politicians, whatever their party colours.
"Obviously, we are not politicians but we are at the chalk-face day-in, day-out, so know what is really going on in schools and see where things can be improved."
The Headteachers' Roundtable grew out of frustration with current government policy on education and the opposition's response to it.
The group's goal is to provide a vehicle for teachers to influence national education policymakers, but ensure future policy is centred on what is best for the children.
More training for teachers, better educational support for parents of babies and toddlers, and financial help for schools finding it hard to recruit excellent teachers are among the ten 'wishes' in the manifesto.
Also included are the setting up of a National Baccalaureate to cover all levels of ability; a plan for all students to study maths and English up to the age of 18, rather than 16, and a reform of Ofsted, the watchdog that inspects and rates the quality of schools and their teaching.
The 12 heads first got together via Twitter and have even met Education Secretary Michael Gove and Michael Willsher, the head of Ofsted.
Over the next few months they will continue to develop their ten proposals in more detail.
Mr Sherrington added: "At the heart of our manifesto is the belief that only great teaching will make our country's education system great. It's that simple.
"We believe that the education policy priorities for the next parliament must be focused upon continuously improving the quality of teaching in our schools.
"Over the coming months we will produce more detailed policy statements suggesting how each proposal could be implemented in practice."
For more on the group and its ideas visit http://headteachers roundtable.wordpress.com
