Key political messages for IfL members

Stephen Williams - Liberal Demcrat MP for Bristol West

Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills

Stephen William - Liberal Democrat for Bristol"I believe that further education is an important route for people to both re-skill and up-skill. It provides tens of thousands of people with a means to gain the skills, knowledge and aspiration to progress their careers and it boosts productivity for both employers and the nation as a whole.

Teachers and trainers throughout the country make a great contribution to further education, through the delivery of short courses and evening classes on a wide range of subjects. Such courses offer a great social mix, bringing together people who have already been in further education with those who are experiencing it for the first time.

Moreover, teachers and trainers at further education colleges and training providers play a vital role in training apprentices. Indeed, in my constituency of Bristol West lies City of Bristol College, which is one of the largest trainers of apprentices in the UK.

Further education is crucial to the development of skills in the UK, and if we are to prosper beyond the recession then a skilled workforce is essential."

Iain Wright - Labour MP for Hartlepool

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for 14 – 19 Reform and Apprenticeships

Iain Wright MP

When I took up my role at the Department for Children, Schools and Families last year, I already knew how much had been achieved over the past decade, but in the intervening months I have been hugely impressed by the sheer scale and ambition of the achievement and efforts of teachers, young people and parents around the country.

This year we hope to do much more, working with the teaching profession, who have already done so much excellent work to help young people achieve historic levels of achievement. New Parent and Pupil guarantees, 1-to-1 catch up tuition for Key Stage 2 pupils who are behind, stronger home-school agreements, every pupil to receive PSHE education and maintaining our commitment to new routes to work, further and higher education through Diplomas and Apprenticeships.

Much has been achieved in the past 12 months and for that, all teachers, young people and parents should be rightly proud, so thank you and I hope 2010 brings even greater success.

David Willetts - Conservative MP for Havant

Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills

David Willetts MPMy first wish for 2010 is that we will have the chance to give a better deal to teachers, trainers and students.

Secondly, I hope that whichever party wins the next election will make tackling problems like youth unemployment its top priority. With more than a million youngsters neither earning nor learning, we urgently need more apprenticeships, more work placements, more college places and more university places. Budgets may be tight, but these are not problems we can afford to ignore.

Thirdly, I hope that longer-term reforms can bring stability to the sector. In HE, Lord Browne’s funding review will result in significant steps to put universities on a stronger financial footing, while dealing with issues around the student experience and social mobility. An independent review of FE and skills is the right way to address these issues and it has our full support.

2009 has been a difficult year, and 2010 will not be easy, but I believe that teachers and trainers in FE and skills are crucial to our being able to turn things around.

Kevin Brennan MP for Cardiff West

Minister of State for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)

Kevin Brennan MPAs teachers and trainers in further education and skills, you have key role in helping build a dynamic and competitive UK economy, by giving learners the skills and knowledge to succeed.

We need to do more to raise the profile of what you do. It must be right that teachers and trainers should stand proudly alongside other highly regarded professionals and that you receive the public recognition for your work in giving the next generation the ability to realise their full potential. Quite simply, good teachers give young people and adult learners the spark needed to light the fire of ambition. In many cases that fire burns for a lifetime. It is priceless.

I know you will share my view that the teaching profession must evolve to keep up with best practice, new techniques and the challenges different learners bring. It is also tremendously important that you receive the support you need to stay up to date in your subject or vocational area, as well as with teaching and training methods. Continuing professional development is crucial. It’s excellent news that over 98 per cent of IfL members who carried out CPD returns had undertaken more than the minimum requirements; this bodes well for the future health of the profession.

Together we have a year ahead of great opportunities, and some challenges too. We are now emerging from recession. Public spending, after sustained and growing investment over the last decade, will be tighter. Your work with thousands of learners and apprentices plays a crucial role in our move from recession to economic strength and prosperity, nationally and locally.