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 6 Version 7
NAHT conference: Industrial action threat over academies NAHT conference: Industrial action threat over academies
(35 minutes later)
Head teachers have threatened industrial action over plans to make all state schools in England academies, after heckling Education Secretary Nicky Morgan at their conference.Head teachers have threatened industrial action over plans to make all state schools in England academies, after heckling Education Secretary Nicky Morgan at their conference.
National Association of Head Teachers delegates said ministers were simply not listening to their concerns.National Association of Head Teachers delegates said ministers were simply not listening to their concerns.
Mrs Morgan's speech was met was cries of "rubbish" as she talked about the academies programme and testing.Mrs Morgan's speech was met was cries of "rubbish" as she talked about the academies programme and testing.
"I hear the strength of feeling in the hall," she said."I hear the strength of feeling in the hall," she said.
Nottinghamshire head Janice Turner urged delegates to back a call on the possibility of industrial action. The government has said that all schools will either have to convert to academy status - which sees them funded by the Department for Education but run by a governing body or trust independent from the local authority - by 2020 or commit to doing so by 2022.
What does it mean to be an academy school?
Nottinghamshire head Janice Turner urged delegates at the conference to back a call on the possibility of industrial action.
She said: "For a long time we've been bribed, we've been threatened, we've been blackmailed and we've been punished.She said: "For a long time we've been bribed, we've been threatened, we've been blackmailed and we've been punished.
"We have no further means other than to say an absolute 'no - you can't do this to us'.""We have no further means other than to say an absolute 'no - you can't do this to us'."
Head teachers highlighted the opposition to the plans from MPs and councillors, and urged schools to get involved in letter-writing campaigns. Head teachers highlighted the opposition to the plans from Labour and some Conservative MPs and councillors, and urged schools to get involved in letter-writing campaigns.
The union also said it would call for a public inquiry into the merits of the academies programme.The union also said it would call for a public inquiry into the merits of the academies programme.
Mrs Morgan's appearance at the conference comes as primary schools grapple with a new set of tests for seven and 11-year-olds. Mrs Morgan's appearance at the conference came as primary schools grapple with a new set of national tests for seven and 11-year-olds that are due to take place in the next two weeks.
One million children or more are due to sit these national tests in the next two weeks.
'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 a question-and-answer session after her speech, Mrs Morgan was asked if she would tweak the wording of the new English assessment, to be taken by half a million 11-year-olds, so that fewer children would be deemed to have failed.In a question-and-answer session after her speech, Mrs Morgan was asked if she would tweak the wording of the new English assessment, to be taken by half a million 11-year-olds, so that fewer children would be deemed to have failed.
Simon Kidwell, head teacher at Hartford Manor Primary School, Cheshire, called for writing assessments to be judged more leniently by a category known as "best fit", rather than the new "secure fit". Simon Kidwell, head of Hartford Manor Primary School, Cheshire, called for writing assessments to be judged more leniently to "empower the teachers to make a judgement that will reflect a child's true ability".
He said: "If you make this positive move you will demonstrate that you are listening to the profession, and you will empower the teachers to make a judgement that will reflect a child's true ability."
When she said she was not minded to make the changes, Mr Sidwell called out: "Are you in charge of the department or is Nick Gibb?"When she said she was not minded to make the changes, Mr Sidwell called out: "Are you in charge of the department or is Nick Gibb?"
Mrs Morgan replied angrily: "I am not going to dignify that sexist question with a response."Mrs Morgan replied angrily: "I am not going to dignify that sexist question with a response."
This was met with gasps and grumbles from heads gathered in the hall, who had previously been clapping the questioner.This was met with gasps and grumbles from heads gathered in the hall, who had previously been clapping the questioner.
Mr Gibb is the schools minister, and testing and accountability are part of his brief.Mr Gibb is the schools minister, and testing and accountability are part of his brief.
AnalysisAnalysis
By Branwen Jeffreys, BBC News education editorBy Branwen Jeffreys, BBC News education editor
With an audience of head teachers it was never likely to be a highly rowdy affair.With an audience of head teachers it was never likely to be a highly rowdy affair.
But with their complete silence as Nicky Morgan walked on stage, low cries of "rubbish" and then loud outraged laughter as she answered questions, head teachers here at the NAHT conference in Birmingham made clear quite how disillusioned they're feeling.But with their complete silence as Nicky Morgan walked on stage, low cries of "rubbish" and then loud outraged laughter as she answered questions, head teachers here at the NAHT conference in Birmingham made clear quite how disillusioned they're feeling.
It's not just the plans to force all schools to become academies, which will affect primary schools most, as few have chosen to go down that route.It's not just the plans to force all schools to become academies, which will affect primary schools most, as few have chosen to go down that route.
It's also the changes, delays and uncertainty around primary testing which have left the Department for Education looking ham-fisted.It's also the changes, delays and uncertainty around primary testing which have left the Department for Education looking ham-fisted.
Read more from BranwenRead more from Branwen
The education secretary said the tests were a vital part of raising standards, criticising plans by some parents to keep their children out of school on Tuesday. The education secretary said the tests were a vital part of raising standards.
Thousands are planning to take part in the protest, according to the Let Our Kids Be Kids campaign which represents parents of six- and seven-year-olds. Heads have been concerned the toughening of Key Stage 2 tests, the results of which are used to hold schools to account, would lead to thousands more schools being labelled failing.
It says primary pupils are being asked to learn concepts that may be beyond their capability and that children's mental health is at risk. Mrs Morgan said the department would hold the percentage of schools to be deemed failing virtually flat, at only 1% more.
"What are the limits placed on a child's imagination when they cannot write down their ideas for others to read?" Mrs Morgan told the conference. 'Widening gap'
"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."
Let Our Kids Be Kids said in response that "the testing regime is what is damaging to millions of children, not a one-day protest".
'Challenging questions'
Heads have been concerned that the toughening of Key Stage 2 tests, the results of which are used to hold schools to account, would lead to thousands more schools being labelled failing.
But Mrs Morgan gave ground on this, saying the department would hold the percentage of schools to be deemed failing virtually flat, at only 1% more.
NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby told reporters afterwards: "That's very significant. There's a lot of people who will have been thinking that tens of thousands of schools are going to fail."NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby told reporters afterwards: "That's very significant. There's a lot of people who will have been thinking that tens of thousands of schools are going to fail."
But this did not pacify head teachers and there was much vocal anger at Mrs Morgan's reluctance to acknowledge standards had been made too hard. But there was much vocal anger from delegates who believe standards have been made too hard.
"You're not listening," one delegate shouted, while others called: "How can you say that?". Mr Hobby said he was "worried at the moment about the gap that's widening between the profession and the government".
Mr Hobby brought the session to an end a few minutes early, thanking Mrs Morgan for her time, and adding: "There were some very challenging questions there. He said: "Academy status is appropriate for some, but mere conversion doesn't guarantee success.
"I am worried at the moment about the gap that's widening between the profession and the government over a number of issues. "What counts is hard work and a clear plan for improvement - both of which can be achieved without conversion."
"The two key issues it revolves around are assessment and academisation." He said the motion empowered the NAHT to press the government hard on the detail of the plans.
'Trust in us' "The secretary of state has said her door is always open and that she will listen. Now she needs to honour her offer."
Kim Johnson, who is an academy head, warned in a letter to the Daily Telegraph that the plan to expand the schools was costly. The NAHT has only taken strike action twice in its history. There was joint action with public sector unions in 2012, and a boycott over Sats tests in 2011.
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."
The cost of turning every school into an academy was "high" and the benefits "uncertain", he said.
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? 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.