Having decided to hold an election hustings on education in our city, Sheffield NUT found records of questions and answers from the last time we did this - 1997. We found one response that could be of interest, from the Labour party.

We asked: “Will you support the call for national consultation on ways to measure the effectiveness of schools other than by league tables?” The written reply was “Yes”.

The next was: “Do you agree that testing children should be to determine individual needs and be based on moderated teacher assessment, records of achievement and other means which help promote the development of that child?” The answer: “Yes”.

The respondent was David Blunkett, MP for Brightside.

Ben Morris, Membership secretary, NUT, Sheffield.