I taught for 17 years in an inner city comprehensive schools.
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.
I am confident that the vast majority of teachers will work with us towards achieving that goal.
The need for improved technical support in schools has expanded as the Government and schools have increased their investment in information and communications technologies.
My Department has already recognised this and has been working specifically on the technical support issue since January and will offer advice to schools during the Autumn term.
Headteachers and governing bodies run schools and that won't change.
My focus and that of all members of the Government responsible for delivering services to the public is to make sure that the public sector can use all the skills it needs to do the job the public wants it to do.
Where the private sector, or anyone else, has skills, knowledge and resources that can help to deliver a high quality of education and to raise standards, we should use them.
