I TAUGHT for 11 years in Worcestershire, starting my career in Redditch.

Now my own children are in local schools and I've seen the improvements a Labour Government has made.

The literacy and numeracy strategies were opposed by the Conservatives and would be removed under their policies for this election, but with the dedication of teachers in the town, they have led to the highest ever results for 11 year olds in maths and English.

In 1997, I was teaching in a mobile classroom. It has now been demolished and replaced with a proper building.

This was funded by Government investment in school buildings that now stands at three times the level it was in 1997. That's why there are schools across Redditch having roofs and windows replaced, extra classrooms built and boilers upgraded.

The Redditch Review has been hard for all involved but it has led to £10 million investment in our schools.

I won an extra £600,000 from the Government to overcome specific problems raised with me by local headteachers and £1.35 million to overcome our disappointing funding position.

Despite claiming to support fair funding, Tory county councillors proposed to send back Government money in their recent budget.

The Labour Government has now published proposals to change the funding formula that has disadvantaged Worcestershire schools for the last 20 years.