Must do better: How to improve the image of teaching and why it matters

We have a serious problem with the image of teaching in this country. In the eyes of many, teaching is not truly a profession akin to other professions. In the popular imagination, it is not on a par with medicine, law or accountancy, engineering, architecture or business. It is not held in the same esteem as careers which are of equivalent importance to society. Must do better challenges this damaging and pernicious status quo. It examines the origins of our problem with teaching, it shines a light on the exciting reality of teaching in the 21st century, and it charts a new course for the image of the modern teaching profession. The book is written to be easily read by the general reader, because ultimately it is with the general reader – the parent, the employer, the politician – that lies the power to effect the change that society needs. We can and we must change the image of teaching for the better.

Roy Blatchford is founder of www.blinks.education working with schools, multi-academy trusts, colleges, universities and local authorities in the UK and internationally. He currently chairs and advises a number of Boards in the education and charity sectors.

Following headships in London, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes, he was Founding Director of the National Education Trust. He has extensive experience of writing inspection frameworks and has reviewed over 1,000 schools, colleges and faculties in Europe, India, USA, Middle and Far East. He was one of Her Majesty's Inspectors (HMI) in England, and has served as an education policy adviser to the UK and other national governments.

Roy was lead author of the 'Teachers Standards' (2012) and chaired ASCL's 'The Forgotten Third' (2019). He is the author/editor of over 150 books including 'The Restless School', 'The Three Minute Leader' and 'Must Do Better'.

He was appointed CBE for services to education in the 2016 New Year Honours.