Truss seeking teachers in SW Norfolk
Elizabeth Truss MP
Teachers are in short supply in South West Norfolk, according to Elizabeth Truss, its Conservative MP.
She raised the matter in the Commons and called on the Government to extend the successful Teach First programme to Norfolk.
Teach First was started in 2002 and sends top graduates to teach in poor performing schools for at least two years. Although it's available in six other regions, the East is not currently one of them. Elizabeth Truss thinks it should be.
She also suggested the possibility that national pay guidelines should be relaxed for subjects that have difficulty in recruiting teachers.
Such a move would make it easier for head teachers to attract qualified candidates, argued the SW Norfolk MP.
Nick Gibb MP (Minister for Schools) had some interesting news. He told her: "On pay, my honourable friend will be interested to know that a further remit will be issued to the School Teachers' Review Body later this year asking for recommendations on how the pay and conditions system can be made less rigid.
"This work will build on the current extensive flexibility, which will allow schools to pay to attract and retain teachers."
Have the ears of the National Union of Teachers and other interested parties pricked up at this suggestion?
Mr Gibb praised the work of Norfolk County Council, supported by the National College, to develop local solutions to meet the demand for head teachers.
Afterwards Elizabeth Truss said: "I want all available tools, including successful programmes like Teach First, to be accessible to schools in Norfolk. It is vital that schools in South West Norfolk are able to recruit teachers in short supply subjects."
Welcome to the political blog for the East. I'm Deborah McGurran, the BBC's Political Editor for the region. From Lowestoft to Luton, this is the place for politics with an eastern twist. 
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