Commenting on the Labour Party’s General Election manifesto, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union said:

“Teachers are looking to the next Government to have vision and a commitment to deliver change that will secure the right of children and young people to a broad and balanced education that has the ability to change lives for good.

“It is also vital that the next Government recognises the centrality of the school and college workforce and trade unions in helping to secure the best opportunities and outcomes for children, young people and families.

“The Labour Party manifesto recognises the pressing need to tackle the crisis in our schools and colleges, by committing to recruiting 6,500 more teachers. However this ambition is to be delivered, this manifesto commitment must go hand in hand with tackling the causes of the teacher retention crisis and ensuring that teachers are not leaving the profession as a result of excessive workload demands, declining real-terms pay and damaging inspection and accountability pressures.

“For too long our schools and colleges have been left to pick up the pieces of the damage caused by 14 years of cuts to the support services that should be there to support children, young people and families. We welcome that these pressures would be addressed as a priority by a future Labour government.

“The workforce in our schools, colleges and public services are part of the solution to fixing the problems created by the current Government and delivering a new deal for children and young people.

“It is vital that the many commitments in Labour’s Manifesto are backed by a guarantee to engage constructively with the profession to deliver on our national ambition for children and young people.”