This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-36176846

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan heckled at NAHT conference Education Secretary Nicky Morgan heckled at NAHT conference
(35 minutes later)
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has been heckled at the National Association of Head Teachers' conference in Birmingham.Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has been heckled at the National Association of Head Teachers' conference in Birmingham.
Her words about the government's academy plans and testing agenda were met with cries of "rubbish".Her words about the government's academy plans and testing agenda were met with cries of "rubbish".
She told the conference: "I hear the strength of feeling in the hall."She told the conference: "I hear the strength of feeling in the hall."
Many are angry about plans for mass academisation in England by 2022, with incoming NAHT leader Kim Johnson saying the benefits are uncertain.Many are angry about plans for mass academisation in England by 2022, with incoming NAHT leader Kim Johnson saying the benefits are uncertain.
There has also been opposition from Labour politicians and from some Conservative MPs and councillors.There has also been opposition from Labour politicians and from some Conservative MPs and councillors.
Mrs Morgan's appearance at the conference comes as primary schools are grappling with a new set of tests for seven and 11-year-olds.Mrs Morgan's appearance at the conference comes as primary schools are grappling with a new set of tests for seven and 11-year-olds.
'A lot of changes''A lot of changes'
The education secretary apologised for the accidental publication of the key stage 1 Sats spelling paper on a government website, revealed last week, as she addressed the conference.The education secretary apologised for the accidental publication of the key stage 1 Sats spelling paper on a government website, revealed last week, as she addressed the conference.
And she said she understood how much change primary heads had been dealing with this year.And she said she understood how much change primary heads had been dealing with this year.
"I recognise there have been a lot of changes - there's a new curriculum, a new way of assessment and new tests," she said."I recognise there have been a lot of changes - there's a new curriculum, a new way of assessment and new tests," she said.
In an attempt to reassure heads that schools would not be treated unfairly because of the unpredictability of tests results, she said the percentage of schools to be deemed failing would be held virtually flat at only 1% more.In an attempt to reassure heads that schools would not be treated unfairly because of the unpredictability of tests results, she said the percentage of schools to be deemed failing would be held virtually flat at only 1% more.
But there was much vocal anger at her reluctance to make any changes to the testing regime.But there was much vocal anger at her reluctance to make any changes to the testing regime.
"You're not listening," one delegate shouted, while others called: "How can you say that?"."You're not listening," one delegate shouted, while others called: "How can you say that?".
'Trust in us' The BBC's Robert Pigott said the reaction to Mrs Morgan's comments were "just the right side of the line for being polite", with "mirthless laughter" and "quite a lot of shouting" from the delegates.
'Freedom to make decisions'
The education secretary said the tests were a vital part of raising standards, criticising the plans by some parents to keep their children out of school on Tuesday in protest.
"What are the limits placed on a child's imagination when they cannot write down their ideas for others to read?" she told the conference.
"That is why the campaign led by some of those who do not think we should set high expectations, who want to keep their children home for a day next week, is so damaging.
"Keeping children home, even for a day, is harmful to their education."
And she said an all-academy system would be consistent and give "freedom" to schools.
"The autonomy that academy status brings means putting power into the hands of school leaders," she said.
"We improve outcomes for young people by ensuring that the teachers... are given the freedom to make the right decisions in the interests of their pupils."
Mr Johnson, who is an academy head, has warned in a letter to the Daily Telegraph that the academy plan is costly.Mr Johnson, who is an academy head, has warned in a letter to the Daily Telegraph that the academy plan is costly.
He wrote: "I will happily persuade my colleagues of the merits of autonomy and freedom. But I have doubts about forcing every school in England to convert to academy status. He wrote: "I will happily persuade my colleagues of the merits of autonomy and freedom. But I have doubts about forcing every school in England to convert to academy status."
"But the cost of the current initiative to turn every school into an academy is high and the benefits uncertain. Smaller schools will surely suffer." The cost of turning every school into an academy was "high" and the benefits "uncertain", he said.
"Smaller schools will surely suffer."
He told the BBC many schools had made the decision that working within a local authority structure worked for them and their community.He told the BBC many schools had made the decision that working within a local authority structure worked for them and their community.
"Why change that? "Why change that? If the choice is become an academy because you know that actually you can improve the quality of what's going on, then that would seem the right thing to do.
"If the choice is become an academy because you know that actually you can improve the quality of what's going on, then that would seem the right thing to do.
"So give the choice. Trust in us. We do know what we're doing," he said."So give the choice. Trust in us. We do know what we're doing," he said.
The government says it wants all schools to be able to enjoy academy freedoms. 'Focus on teaching'
Earlier this week, Mrs Morgan defended the plans in front of the Education Select Committee, saying they would create "a strong, consistent system".Earlier this week, Mrs Morgan defended the plans in front of the Education Select Committee, saying they would create "a strong, consistent system".
A dual system with academies running alongside local authority schools would be less efficient, she said.A dual system with academies running alongside local authority schools would be less efficient, she said.
'Tipping point'
Russell Hobby, general secretary of the NAHT, which mainly represents primary schools, said there were concerns from some members who were leading good or outstanding schools.Russell Hobby, general secretary of the NAHT, which mainly represents primary schools, said there were concerns from some members who were leading good or outstanding schools.
"They've had the chance to convert to academy status for five years or more - they've got good reasons for not doing so.
"A government that talks about professional autonomy and delegating the control to the front line really needs to listen to that," he said."A government that talks about professional autonomy and delegating the control to the front line really needs to listen to that," he said.
"What they want to do is focus on teaching and learning in the classroom, not on all the logistics admin and legal changes that would just be a distraction for them.""What they want to do is focus on teaching and learning in the classroom, not on all the logistics admin and legal changes that would just be a distraction for them."
But Paul Luxemore, executive head of the Coastal Academies Trust which oversees four secondary schools and one primary school, told BBC Radio 5 live: "By arguing that remaining local authority schools should have the choice not to become academies, in effect the NAHT are defending local authorities.But Paul Luxemore, executive head of the Coastal Academies Trust which oversees four secondary schools and one primary school, told BBC Radio 5 live: "By arguing that remaining local authority schools should have the choice not to become academies, in effect the NAHT are defending local authorities.
"I think we have already reached a tipping point where local authorities in most parts of the UK can't provide the school improvement that they did in the past - so many schools have become academies already that the capacity for local authorities to deliver effective school improvement has been hugely diminished.""I think we have already reached a tipping point where local authorities in most parts of the UK can't provide the school improvement that they did in the past - so many schools have become academies already that the capacity for local authorities to deliver effective school improvement has been hugely diminished."