I was head of the Sixth Form Centre when I left the school.

If bringing up the next generation is important, why aren't they the best qualified, the best paid? Why aren't we as concerned about their career progression as we are about those who work in the education or health services?

By creating useful job descriptions and making clear what qualifications should be expected, the Department aims to help improve schools' ability to recruit the right people.

I know there are things I did in education that will never be reversed. I have not done that in film yet because I have only been here for about nine months.

I do recognise that, where recruitment difficulties persist, teachers can be put under great pressure.

In the 21st century when few of us stay in the same job all our lives, I would like to think there was flexibility so teachers could become social workers, or foster carers become teachers.

Headteachers and governing bodies run schools and that won't change.