Join the debate

It’s your chance to get your voice heard in our pre-election debates.

The FE debate - March 9, 2010

Make sure the voice of FE is heard at the only pre-election debate tackling the subject of further education. Hear from.

• Kevin Brennan MP Minister of State for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs
• John Hayes MP Shadow Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education
• Stephen Williams MP Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills

• The FE debate begins at 7pm on March 9 and will be held at the IET, Savoy Place, London. Book your free place at the event now.

  Can’t make it to the debate? Watch it live here, so make sure you bookmark this page. The event will also be available to watch on demand from 6pm March 10.

  
  The TES debate - March 15, 2010

  Labour, Tory and Lib Dem education spokespeople in a head-to-head battle.

  • The Rt Hon Ed Balls MP Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
  • David Laws MP Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
  • Conservative education spokesperson (TBC)

  • The TES debate begins at 7pm on March 15 and will be held at the IET, Savoy Place, London. Free tickets for the event will be available soon, please check back here for details.

    Can’t make it to the debate? Watch it live here, so make sure you bookmark this page. The event will also be available to watch on demand from 6pm March 16.

    
    

    Education Election 2010 - the story so far

    Gove accuses Balls of spending `evasion’ (published: Jan 22 2010)

    The Conservatives have accused Schools Secretary Ed Balls of keeping them in the dark over his department’s spending plans.

    Good news for Gordon: teachers back Labour (published: Jan 15 2010)

    Labour remains the most popular party among the teaching community, an Ipsos MORI poll of teachers has revealed. A survey of 1,000 teachers showed that 25 per cent who expressed a preference would vote for the party if there was a general election tomorrow.

    Better the devil you know (published: Jan 15 2010)

    A new poll says the beleaguered Labour party is still the most popular among teachers. But is this just a sign of a profession wearied by change?

    Chris Woodhead on the prospect of a Conservative government (published: Jan 15 2010)

    Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove has promised more professional autonomy to schools and a genuine choice for parents. There could, for better or worse, be significant change.”

    In election year, change looms large (published: Jan 8 2010)

    Teachers face policy and funding upheaval in 2010, whichever way they vote.

    Clegg: Lib Dems will ring-fence education cash (published: Dec 18 2009)

    Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, said that he will go further than both Labour and the Conservatives and guarantee that the spending will continue at current levels even after the comprehensive spending review period.

    Balls’ tour of duty bangs the drum of election belief (published: Dec 4 2009)

    You think our schools would be safe in Tory hands? Try telling that to the voters, says Ed Balls.

    Puzzle over missing pieces of Gove reforms (published: Oct 16 2009)

    The shadow schools secretary was hailed as a star at the Tory party conference. But it was what he didn’t say that attracted attention outside the conference hall.

    Tories to scrap national pay deals (published: Oct 9 2009)

    National deals that guarantee pay and working conditions for all teachers will be abolished if the Conservatives win the next election.

    
    But what do you think.

    The TES Connect forums have been buzzing with conversations about the elections, here’s a selection of some of the juciest topics. All you need to do to join in the debate is register with the TES Connect website.

    Does it matter if it’s a Tory or Labour government?

    Many teachers are convinced that no matter which party is in power, teachers are in for a hard time over the next few years.

    New year’s resolutions for Ed Balls

    We asked our forum users to suggest suitable new year’s resolution for the Education Secretary. Losing his seat was high on the list, with some calling for the return of Estelle Morris.

    What about Cameron

    Much of the online discussion has been about Tory leader David Cameron and, what our forum users call, his obsession with image rather than policies.

    Brazenly elitist

    However there was some support for Cameron’s attempt to make teaching a `brazenly elitist’ profession.

    You can’t teach if you have a third, says Dave

    Not everybody went for this suggestion though.

    And finally what do you think of Michael Gove.

    The Tory education spokesman won a few fan with his performance at the party conference last year.