Ed Miliband chose the school run by his old teacher in Poplar to announce plans for a Royal College of Teaching.
The Labour leader made the announcement on a visit to Langdon Park Community Sports College, where his former English teacher Chris Dunne is about to retire as head teacher.
Mr Miliband went to his local comprehensive, Haverstock School, in Camden, where Mr Dunne was once an English teacher, and the Labour leader has praised Mr Dunne for being an as an inspiring teacher in previous Labour Party speeches.
Mr Miliband said the college would result in teachers being “proud of what they do, with the right qualifications for the job” as the party attacked Education Secretary Michael Gove’s reforms for allowing “unqualified” staff to take lessons.
Mr Miliband said: “We need more teachers like Chris Dunne. He inspired me when I was at school and he has been a great teacher - and head teacher - for many children since.
“A Royal College of Teaching will help raise the standards and status of teaching further, ensuring we have more of the kind of teachers that inspired me when I was at school.
“Teachers like Chris Dunne: proud of what they do, with the right qualifications for the job, with the freedom to think for themselves so that children can learn to think for themselves.”
In the past Mr Dunne has criticised governments for concentrating so much on A to C grades that it is failing students falling below that bracket.
During the visit Mr Miliband was also quizzed by students during a Question and Answer session.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here