ATL

ATL comment on Conservative proposal for technical schools in 12 English cities

Martin Johnson, deputy general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said:

"Although the run-up to a general election is rarely a good time for getting a sensible discussion about long-term policies, we need politicians to debate the value for money in competing policies for post-14 education. Getting collaboration between schools and between schools and colleges is expensive, but so is establishing new schools when we don't need more places for pupils.

"Politicians concerned about social inequality in Britain need to realise that a sheep and goats approach to the curriculum will not attack disadvantages and under-achievement. Since all the main political parties now claim to be progressive, let them agree that the current secondary curriculum does not meet the needs of any young people in the 21st century."

Notes to editors:

1. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing approximately 160,000 teachers, headteachers, lecturers and support staff in maintained and independent nurseries, schools, sixth form, tertiary and further education colleges in the United Kingdom.
2. ATL exists to help members, as their careers develop, through first-rate research, advice, information and legal advice.
3. ATL is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and Education International (EI). The union is a member of the social partnership - working with the UK government, employers and other unions on education issues. ATL is not affiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively with all the main political parties.