CONTINUING to improve education remains Labour's highest priority and, for me personally, it was a desire to give children a better start in life through better schooling that initially led me into politics and the Labour Party.

I passionately believe that through education, governments can achieve their wider aims of prosperity, opportunity, personal fulfilment and, importantly, greater fairness in our society. But it is undoubtedly true that, for far too long in this country, good quality education was reserved for those who could either buy it privately or knew how to work the state system to get the best out of it. Back in 1997, Labour recognised that this inequality of opportunity, together with the chronic under-funding of our schools and colleges by the previous administration, was a brake on our country's development.

Over the last eight years, a quiet revolution has occurred in Wyre Forest schools. The significant and sustained extra money that has gone into our local schools, which equates to an extra £650 per pupil per year, has been used to reduce class sizes, improve facilities, increase classroom support and to start to pay teachers a decent salary for the vital job they do.

As a school governor in Worcestershire since 1996, I have seen at first hand the difference that the extra money invested by this Government has made to local schools. Back in 1996, first schools often had only one or two computers for the entire school, whereas today virtually every classroom is equipped with them. Back in 1996, schools were lucky to be able to afford even one classroom assistant whereas now, in many schools, there is an assistant in each class. The extra money and the improved support for teachers has had a dramatic impact on school results. I could quote numerous statistics in support of this but I will limit myself to just two - 18 per cent more Wyre Forest 11-year-olds now gain the required standard in reading and writing than in 1997 and 10 per cent more young people leave school with five or more good GCSEs.

However, what these simple statistics can never convey is the improved prospects that these young people have, thanks to a decent education.

Looking forward, the implementation of the Wyre Forest Review presents us with both opportunities and challenges. I welcome the massive cash boost that will accompany the school changes. It will enable the replacement of some tired school buildings but I am concerned that we do not lose the good things in our current system. We have many excellent teachers and good community links that need to be retained. If elected, I will also make it one of my key priorities to make sure that those children in the system as the changes occur are not disadvantaged. They only have one chance at schooling and they should not pay the price for administrative changes.

I ask you to vote Labour on May 5 so that, together, Government, schools, parents and pupils can continue to move education forward.