I think film is a very powerful advocate and message carrier.
I am delighted to be involved in the digital divide campaign to ensure that every school is made aware of what steps it can take to address the digital divide as it affects local children, and provide a range of opportunities for ICT suppliers, government agencies, charities and other organisations to make a contribution.
What politicians want to create is irreversible change because when you leave office someone changes it back again.
The need for improved technical support in schools has expanded as the Government and schools have increased their investment in information and communications technologies.
I am not good at dealing with the modern media. I have not felt I have been as effective as I should be.
If bringing up the next generation is important, why aren't they the best qualified, the best paid? Why aren't we as concerned about their career progression as we are about those who work in the education or health services?
You have got to attract the brightest and the best, but the brightest and best won't stay unless they see real career options.
Headteachers and governing bodies run schools and that won't change.
My Department has already recognised this and has been working specifically on the technical support issue since January and will offer advice to schools during the Autumn term.
I was head of the Sixth Form Centre when I left the school.
At different times I taught humanities, social sciences and pre-vocational education.
In the 21st century when few of us stay in the same job all our lives, I would like to think there was flexibility so teachers could become social workers, or foster carers become teachers.
If you invent the Mini Cooper, pour all your energy and passion into it and it gets made, you should be on a roll. In the film industry you have to start again the next day.
It is a very unusual sector and the one thing I would ask of them is to understand that for most of them one-third of their films are being financed by the taxpayer and that carries huge accountability and responsibility.
I want to give producers more financial security.
I know there are things I did in education that will never be reversed. I have not done that in film yet because I have only been here for about nine months.
By creating useful job descriptions and making clear what qualifications should be expected, the Department aims to help improve schools' ability to recruit the right people.
There is a shortage of teachers but the January 2001 schools census showed that teacher numbers were at their highest level than at any time since 1984 - and 11,000 higher than 1997.
I taught for 17 years in an inner city comprehensive schools.
However, the Government has made it clear that we do not encourage the recruitment of teachers from developing nations where there may be an adverse effect on the economy.
Before this government came to power, many failing schools were simply allowed to drift on in a pattern of continuing failure. The government is determined to break that pattern and is successfully doing so.
I do recognise that, where recruitment difficulties persist, teachers can be put under great pressure.
