Clarke calls for 'passionate' teachers

Clarke calls for 'passionate' teachers

Charles Clarke is demanding more 'enthusiasm'

Education Secretary Charles Clarke has called on teachers to show "passion and enthusiasm" for their subjects.

Speaking at the Secondary Heads Association annual conference in Birmingham, he invited skilled professionals, such as scientists, musicians and film-makers, to visit schools.

Mr Clarke claimed the best staff were those who used their interest in their subjects to "excite" pupils.

He said: "Teachers who are committed specialists in their chosen subject play a valuable role in helping to raise standards both in the classroom and across the school.

'Stronger role'

"We have already started to think about how we can best support subject specialism in schools."

The government has promised national science and mathematics centres.

These, it says, will show teachers "exciting" new ways to convey their subjects to pupils, and keep the syllabus up-to-date.

Mr Clarke said subject associations themselves could also "play a stronger role."

This could be as organisers of "subject networks", helping specialists in primary, secondary and university levels to improve teaching and learning. Or it could involve setting standards.

But Mr Clarke asked schools to look beyond the education community for help.

He said: "Working alongside teachers, other skilled professionals like actors, poets, musicians, scientists and film-makers have the potential to open a new window on learning.

"This is good for pupils simply because they approach curriculum content in a new way.

"For example, seeing professional actors perform Shakespeare at the Globe theatre could bring Macbeth and the three witches to life."

Shadow education secretary Damian Green said: "Charles Clarke's speech completely misses the point.

"If he thinks that heads and teachers are not enthusiastic enough about what they teach it's because the government doesn't trust them to do their job.

"All teachers want is to be able to teach in a safe and disciplined environment, free from bureaucratic interference from Whitehall.

"Instead, they have to deal with pages and pages of paperwork and 200,000 physical assaults each year."