Very pleased to see and read here that the cause for all our ills has been pinpointed - Major/Thatcher - Now any explanation as to why all was not put immediately right in the the 13 years they had in office by "Education, Edjukayshun, Edge-oo-kay-shun" Blair, Gordon of Cartoon & Labour??

Both England and Scotland had education systems that worked perfectly well until Anthony ""If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to destroy every fucking grammar school in England. And Wales and Northern Ireland" Crosland hit his stride. Then all of a sudden it was no longer education that took priority but social engineering - Scottish schools which were the example of how a comprehensive system can work are now a complete and utter mess and with meddling by the SNP our universities are rapidly going the same way.

My wife (former teacher) and I took a good look at the State system in operation where we lived and took the conscious decision to educate our children privately thereby following the example shown by the "Champagne Socialist's" and Labour Elite - Good for the Goose - Good for the Gander. Now that involved a bit of sacrifice on our part, but I've never, ever regretted it.

Quite agree that newly qualified teachers should NOT be compelled to work inside a broken and totally demoralised system for any length of time before being free to work wherever they choose.