What exactly is this woman's position in the government?

Well I don't know how to do links. In today's Guardian.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/19/michael-moore-where-to-invade-next-world-hope

Thank you DJ

Interesting article, especially if you follow the blues link within it for more information. The fact that Finland is third behind such countries as Japan and Korea (N or S?) but has a relaxed approach is worth investigating further.

I have friends with children going through the education system in Hong Kong. It is horrendous - the hours these children have to put in and the whole ethos of the education system.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/128202

The government response to the petition asking for the minister for education to be a qualified teacher.
It took quite a while for them to manage five sentences in support.

Another 60,000 signatures to get them to discuss it in parliament.

The Finnish system has been written about quite extensively. There was a good article in the Guardian last year:

www.theguardian.com/education/2015/jun/17/highly-trained-respected-and-free-why-finlands-teachers-are-different?CMP=share_btn_fb

Sorry about the link for those who don't like them, but it would take too long to paraphrase it and I think the article is worth reading in full.

It's the respected bit that's important, daphne.
This government has never had any respect for teachers or the education system. If it had, they wouldn't be leaving in droves.

I agree. Teachers in Finland aren't paid a fortune, but education is respected by all sectors of society. Teachers study for five years and the Finns don't put unqualified teachers in the classroom to save money. Interestingly, children dob't start school until they are seven and all secondary schools are comprehensive, with virtually no private schools - yet Finland still always comes near the top of the PISA tables.

Similar to Denmark, although the teachers earn more.
Denmark also spends more per pupil than almost every other country in the OECD. That could be why they get good results, with happier pupils than the UK.
As well as the emphasis on teaching rather than testing.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-36500257

Something else being slipped through while attention is being diverted elsewhere. The two most important people in education are going to be two women who have no experience of teaching and support academisation.

According to be Nicky Morgan (in the article from dj), Amanda Spielman 'has extensive experience in the frontline of education'. I always assumed that the frontline of education was the classroom - obviously I've been completely wrong in my thinking and the frontline is in an office in Central London as this woman has never taught. Why does this government mistrust experts so much?

Apologies for the link, but this letter to Nicky Morgan from concerned parents is well worth reading letthekidsbekids.wordpress.com/2016/06/13/letter-to-nicky-morgan-following-response-to-38-degrees-petition/

I always look on links as showing you are up-to-date with technology.
A good letter, tessa. Is she going to be in a job next week, do you think?