Teaching success

This can have a far greater impact on a school's record than any other factor, and can see the less academically-gifted start to fulfil their potential. The problem is that these teachers are few on the ground, in part because many have become disillusioned at the never-ending paperwork and left the profession.

The approach advocated by Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, needs to be placed in this context. He believes teacher training funding for core subjects, like maths and the sciences, should be restricted to graduates with a 2.2 degree or better.

Mr Gove's logic is sound. He believes that pupils should only be taught by teachers with strong qualifications in the subject area concerned.

Yet, in doing so, the Minister is ruling out those people who, for

whatever reason, have not gone to university.

This dilemma is summed up by Professor Alan Smithers, a leading academic, who asks today whether it is better for physics to be taught by a well-qualified scientist, who is well versed in the jargon, or an individual with lesser qualifications, but who commands the respect of the class?

Either way, there will not be sufficient teachers for the specialist subjects unless the profession becomes more attractive. As such, Mr Gove should seek the counsel of those who have stopped teaching before he finalises his policy.