I will take all the steps necessary to give the NHS at least another £100million per week by 2020.

The single most important thing in a child's performance is the quality of the teacher. Making sure a child spends the maximum amount of time with inspirational teachers is the most important thing.

It is literally the case that learning languages makes you smarter. The neural networks in the brain strengthen as a result of language learning.

Learning a foreign language, and the culture that goes with it, is one of the most useful things we can do to broaden the empathy and imaginative sympathy and cultural outlook of children.

For a few spotty years, I was that tragic geek

Proper history teaching is being crushed under the weight of play-based pedagogy which infantilises children, teachers and our culture.

I'm a decentralizer. I believe in trusting professionals.

It's often the case that successful people invite criticism.

I have come, reluctantly, to the conclusion that Boris [Johnson] cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead.

I have a different starting premise from those 100 academics who are so heavily invested in the regime of low expectations and narrow horizons which they have created.

I believed we needed someone who would be able to build a team, lead and unite. I hoped that person would be Boris Johnson.

You can actually possess all your wishes.

You don't win a game by hitting the ball out of the court.

My life contains so many other things; I have my children, my grandchildren, my two dogs and a big place in the country. I have my own life.

I'm painting an idea not an ideal. Basically I'm trying to paint a structured painting full of controlled, and therefore potent, emotion.

I have patience in all things - as far as the antechamber.

While we don't always get what we want, we always get what we choose.

There are two things I eat that I know I shouldn't: chocolate and ice cream. You only live once, so I am going to eat chocolate.

Use anything you can think of to understand and be understood, and you'll discover the creativity that connects you with others.

I yearn for things, but at the same time I am just peaceful.

I'm the sexiest when I'm happy because it brings out a lot of confidence.