York visit for inquiry into teacher recruitment, training and retention
24 February 2012
The Education Committee visits York on Monday 5 March as part of a major inquiry into the recruitment, training and retention of teachers.
Members of the cross-party committee—which is tasked with scrutinising the work of the Department for Education—will undertake a number of local visits before holding a formal session at the York Guildhall at 3pm, where evidence will be taken from local headteachers and teacher training providers ahead of a question-and-answer session with the public.
Committee chair Graham Stuart, MP for the East Yorkshire constituency of Beverley and Holderness, said, “The best part of the Committee’s job is leaving our desks in Westminster and meeting professionals, parents and students from across the country. We are looking forward to a packed day in York where we will get to do exactly that and gain valuable evidence about the impact of Government reforms on the ground.”
The Committee, Mr Stuart explained, would begin its day with visits to two well-regarded schools in the city, where roundtable discussions would be held with students and teachers. Afterwards, MPs would have lunch with trainee teachers from local universities, before moving to the Guildhall. In the evening, a reception will be held at the Guildhall for invited local teachers from a range of schools.
Ask MPs questions
Following the afternoon evidence session, a question-and-answer session will be held where members of the public are invited to ask MPs questions on Parliament and the role of Select Committees, as well as on topics across the Committee’s remit – which includes schools and colleges, childcare, children’s services, and wider education and family issues. In order to attend the evidence session and the Q&A afterwards, members of the public are encouraged to arrive at York Guildhall at around 2.45pm, as MPs are hoping the event will prove popular.
For more information please contact the Committee’s media officer, Hannah Pearce: pearcehm@parliament.uk“The visit is all part of an inquiry we’re conducting into what makes a really great teacher, and how to get and keep more of them,” explained Mr Stuart. “No-one is better qualified to help us get answers to those big questions than teachers and pupils themselves, which is why we’re so looking forward to hearing from them, and the wider Yorkshire community, on 5 March.”