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.

What politicians want to create is irreversible change because when you leave office someone changes it back again.

What politicians want to create is irreversible change because when you leave office someone changes it back again.

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.