Tony Blair: "A new deal for teachers"

Good Teachers to Get Knighthoods

He is aiming to modernise the honours system to reflect his desire to make education a Government priority.

Heads who successfully turn around failing schools can expect to be rewarded with the top honour of being made Sirs by the Queen. Currently the highest honour a teacher can obtain is an OBE.

Tony Blair: "Education is a priority"

Mr Blair floated his idea in an interview with the Sun newspaper: "If someone does a great job, takes over a poor school and turns it around, why shouldn't they have a knighthood?", he said.

Headteacher Peter Clark and NASUWT General Secretary, Nigel de Gruchy, debate the idea - Dur 2'56"

Mr Blair added that teachers would be given a new deal. But he also warned them that the public would not tolerate bad teachers and headmasters who fail to perfom.

David Blunkett: "A serious proposal"

The Education and Employment Secretary, David Blunkett, gave his full support to the idea. Speaking on the BBC's Today programme he said that a range of honours would be considered.

He wanted to motivate teachers to perform well in the classroom. He believed "motivation, recognition and applause from the Government and the public" were very important to the teaching profession.