前英国首相布莱尔演讲集 14- 英语听说资源下载区 - 英语听说 - 太傻超级论坛 - Pow...

Transcript of Prime Minister's broadcast on education - 17 November 2000 $ A! ~& s0 T7 U2 O# O
How well our children do at school is vital, of course, to the youngsters themselves and their families. 3 X0 m2 b( y% ^1 t" t
A good start at school, a good education, makes a huge difference to children's chances in later life.
) A) k  I  H: e: J+ Q9 |9 g  b" eBut the quality of education our children receive also matters to the country as a whole - because our future economic success and prosperity depends on it.   a4 K- {2 D. c8 d& k& Q- h4 w3 E
In this new century, more than ever before, the raw material that counts is the talent and skills of our people. 1 f; \+ x" V) I+ f$ v) [: E
So to succeed, we need to make sure that everyone gets the chance to make the most of that potential.
. f- R$ B# |+ rIt's for these reasons that we made education our number one priority. And we have backed that pledge with record and sustained investment. 1 \5 y+ }" z% K* c& e, g$ [4 A( h
It is investment which can only be afforded now and in future years because of the tough decisions taken to bring long-term stability to our economy.
) f0 b# e5 g- |! y# `1 eThe importance of education to our children and our country is why I was so pleased this week to hear of the steady progress taking place in our secondary schools.
3 F8 W( b" [+ m) nThe latest performance tables highlight the continued and welcome improvements in overall standards. , k  k3 p$ ]! Y$ |5 z; |% [9 j) W. r" q
It's particularly good news that we have seen better than average improvements in secondary schools in some of our inner-city areas. 4 [8 [: e% f4 H3 n7 S! E, X
Many inner city schools now have programmes for bright children, extra staff to cope with those with problems and more backing to improve discipline. + L9 M9 p' `# z( T1 q2 t+ O- L
And they show how the policies that David Blunkett has targeted at those communities with some of the greatest problems, are paying off. 9 Y. a/ Q8 V7 U# c. ?7 E
But while I'm pleased that Government policies are playing their part in these improvements, the real hard work has been done by the pupils, parents and, of course, teachers. 8 y( N# \+ v* b4 ^3 {' k
It's the thousands of dedicated teachers, day in day out in classrooms up and down the country, who are making the difference. 4 ?) n+ L2 k# ^, R2 ~  j$ K
And these results show just what can be achieved by committed teachers and their pupils, supported by effective national strategies and investment.
+ x3 `$ ^" l2 T8 j3 ?9 xThe results also build on the dramatic improvements we have already seen in our primary schools. : F, w. o9 M7 }
Here the introduction of the numeracy and literacy hours have helped teachers ensure their pupils have a better grip on the basics.
) q: V& d+ t/ `: T8 XSo successful have these dedicated lessons proved - and so popular have they proved with teachers - that we are now extending them to the early years in secondary schools.
: F4 `, v/ {0 Z* OThey will particularly help those children who leave primary school without reaching the standards in reading, writing and maths expected for their age. 7 i+ u0 d9 X. m- j  B" i# G
£82 million more has been allocated by David Blunkett, whose leadership has played such a vital role in improving standards, to give secondary teachers the support and the tools they need to adapt the literacy and numeracy strategies for their pupils. 3 s+ |. H9 h6 B4 I9 r3 n1 }
Our secondary schools then can improve just like our primary schools. So, pupils, parents and teachers have real reason for pride.
% b0 N% \+ k, \$ g3 X0 R! W1 Z1 {But there's no room for complacency. We need to keep improving standards.
) m. D) H8 t/ uWe need to keep working so that the standards in our best comprehensive schools - like Thomas Telford School in Shropshire where every pupil achieved five or more A* to C grades in their GCSE exams last year - become the norm.
  F- c: L; X) hWe've already greatly expanded specialist schools like this. Within four years, nearly 30 per cent of all secondaries will have a specialism in technology, languages, arts and sports.
+ g( O* n/ A& `5 xWe need to keep working so that the progress witnessed in these schools - whose results are improving at 50 per cent more than the average level - then help drive up standards across all secondaries. % Q8 B) E+ F8 K* C0 t' l
Pupils can't bring about these improvements on their own. Nor can teachers, parents or the Government. : I. a% _5 r0 u
It needs us all to continue working together to deliver the results we want. It's important we succeed - for the future of our children and for our country.