Powerful stuff at conference

I don't know why it always surprises me but it does. Even though it has happened during more than a few leaders' speeches at party conferences over the years, I forget just how powerful good oratory still is - despite our increasingly digital world. It inspires, it stiffens the sinews - 'once more unto the breach', close the wall with Labour dead, etc. Of course for those who are not present it has little impact in this world of selective sound-bites. Somewhere in Gordon's speech was:

"And the new model for education in the 21st century –the biggest step we can take into the future - is to unlock the talents of all young people. ... Our guarantee to all young people is that with millions of new opportunities from apprenticeships to internships to a new class of modern technicians, we will discover, coach, develop and showcase the wealth of aspiration and talent that exists in Britain."

That could have been Edge talking! And Ed followed on:

“But when he (Michael Gove) said we should exclude all vocational qualifications and Diplomas from league table comparisons of school performance, you start to get the real measure of his plans. Time after time I've visited schools where heads have proudly shown me design or construction, sport or dance lessons and told me those subjects have inspired young people to get good grades, including in maths and English too. But Michael Gove says that these are soft subjects which should not count. What schools does he visit? How can he say all the pupils in our state schools learning these vocational subjects are second class? Instead of ending the damaging old divide between first class academic qualifications for some and vocational learning for the rest, he wants turn to back the clock and entrench that divide.”

I couldn't be more pleased. At last it looks as if we may be getting a public debate on education at the highest level that doesn't duck the importance of 'many paths to success'. Come on Dave, come on Michael, it's your turn, show them whose boss: "I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, straining upon the start. The game's afoot: follow your spirit, and upon this charge cry 'God for Practical and Vocational Learning!’”