I HAVE experienced education in Herefordshire as a student, teacher trainer, adult literacy tutor, SEN teaching assistant, and governor. My children were excellently taught at Madley, Kingstone and Hereford Sixth Form College, and I’m excited about Hereford’s new university.

But in this time, I have seen teachers and students increasingly stressed, poorer school transport, endless government interference, more paperwork, and local accountability being steadily undermined.

I meet no parent, teacher or student happy with recent governments’ approach. Tests, targets, league tables and performance-related pay pitch schools and teachers against each other.

Financially incentivising academies and free schools treats learning as a competitive business, and undermines truly comprehensive education. This is socially and culturally damaging, and the Green Party would reverse it.

Under our system, properly funded childcare and new children’s centres would transition smoothly into formal education by age 7. Schools would be accountable to local authorities and have class sizes of no more than 20. Reduced testing, more connecting with nature, and free nutritious meals would help foster a love of teaching and learning.

We would replace Ofsted with our National Council of Educational Excellence, creating a system in which schools would co-operate to serve their local population rather than compete with each other.

Evening youth schools would create supportive places for teenagers to learn and socialise. We would reinstate EMA and decent careers support for students over 16, and encourage young people into further and higher education by scrapping tuition fees – instead of saddling them with lifetime debts.

A well-educated population is good for the economy but is vital for society. Elect me, and I will focus on repairing Herefordshire’s education system.