As a teacher, I worked an average 60-hour week and was paid pound;16,500 in my first year, rising to pound;18,500 recently. Of my 60 hours, 25 were time-tabled in the classroom (no non-contact time in our school). That left 35 hous of admin tasks a week, the equivalent of my old-full-time job.

So (using my new skills gained from the wonderful numeracy hour), that meant the Government valued my teaching time to the tune of between pound;1,500 and pound;3,500.

And they wonder why so few people want to teach.

J Hedge, Birchen Grove, Luton