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Michael Gove heckled at head teachers' conference in Birmingham Michael Gove heckled at head teachers' conference in Birmingham
(35 minutes later)
The education secretary met with one of the angriest receptions of his three years in office when he appeared before head teachers in Birmingham. The education secretary faced one of the angriest receptions of his three years in office when he appeared before head teachers in Birmingham.
Michael Gove was heckled and jeered at the National Association of Head Teachers conference.Michael Gove was heckled and jeered at the National Association of Head Teachers conference.
The union passed a no confidence motion in his policies, while president Bernadette Hunter said teachers and pupils had "never had it so bad".The union passed a no confidence motion in his policies, while president Bernadette Hunter said teachers and pupils had "never had it so bad".
But Mr Gove said he was striving for higher standards in schools.But Mr Gove said he was striving for higher standards in schools.
The education secretary was appearing at a question and answer session with heads at the conference. The education secretary appeared taken aback by the frosty reception as he appeared for the question and answer session on Saturday.
Delegates had debated claims that head teachers are being bullied into turning their schools into academies - independently run, but state funded schools. He was told by delegates that head teachers were suffering from stress caused by his policies, by Sats tests and by the prospect of facing tough Ofsted inspections.
'Enough is enough' In response to the latter, Mr Gove said: "If you think Ofsted is causing you fear I am grateful for your candour, but we are going to have to part company."
The Department for Education argues the best way forward for an underperforming school is to become an academy with the support of a strong sponsor. At which point, a delegate shouted: "Are you leaving then?"
But heads say that academy "brokers" employed by the DfE are using unsavoury methods to push primary schools into opting out of their links with local authorities. 'Dissolved into tears'
Ms Hunter, told the conference Mr Gove was like a "fanatical personal trainer" who was urging schools to jump higher and run faster. Mr Gove looked visibly ruffled during the session which was repeatedly punctuated by ironic laughter and groans at his responses.
She said the education secretary paid no heed to "the damage he is causing to the body or the system". One head teacher, Denise Wells, from Field House Infants school in Derbyshire, said colleagues felt they were living under a culture of "bullying and fear" as they waited for Ofsted inspectors to arrive.
Mr Gove told delegates he had been "delighted with the warmth and enthusiasm" that had greeted some the government's education policies. Another, Lesley Wells, from Burton on Trent in Staffordshire, described how one of her school governors with 20 years experience had "dissolved into tears" after a week in which her school dealt with both Sats and an Ofsted visit.
"And on other occasions I have been chastened by the criticism we have had," he added. She said as a head teacher she expected to face pressure but she did not think it was right that someone who had given 20 years of voluntary service should.
There was a round of applause from conference delegates when it was suggested Mr Gove was a source of head teachers' stress. Mr Gove told delegates he had been "delighted with the warmth and enthusiasm" that had greeted some of the government's education policies.
He admitted that he may have not communicated his vision of the education system well enough, but said that while he had been "chastened by criticism" in the past, there would be no change of course.
"If people find it stressful that I'm demanding higher standards," the education secretary said to audible groans from the hall, "then I'm not going to stop demanding higher standards.""If people find it stressful that I'm demanding higher standards," the education secretary said to audible groans from the hall, "then I'm not going to stop demanding higher standards."
Proposing the no confidence motion, Tim Gallagher, a head teacher from Worcestershire, said: "Enough is enough. This motion is intending to send the strongest message possible to this government that many of their education policies are failing children, their parents and the very fabric of our school communities." At the end of the session he said: "What I have heard is repeated statements that the profession faces stress, and insufficient evidence about what can be done about it...
He said it gave the union's leadership the mandate to oppose these policies in the "strongest manner possible". "What I haven't heard over the last hour is a determination to be constructive, critical yes, but not constructive."
He claimed policy directives and guidelines were landing on the desks of governors and head teachers with increasing frequency and resonance, but that they were "disruptive, damaging and pernicious" and "lacked understanding". 'Forced academisation'
He was particularly critical of the policy described by teaching unions as "forced academisation". Earlier, the NAHT joined the three biggest teaching unions in England and Wales in formally opposing government education policy, but is the first head teachers' union to pass a no confidence motion.
"With this government, it's ideology gone mad," he said, with experts ignored and policy "written on the back of a fag packet". It is critical because it is head teachers who will have to implement the government's school plans.
It had ended up, he added, with civil servants working like "dodgy salesmen" as academy brokers trying to persuade schools to convert. The stance represents a stepping up of their conflict with ministers and follows on from test boycotts and industrial action.
And he highlighted a school in Croydon which was demanding a public inquiry into the alleged bullying tactics of such brokers. The union is particularly critical of what it describes as "forced academisation" in which struggling schools are encouraged to convert to become state-funded independent schools instead of remaining part of their local education authority.
Seconding the motion, fellow head Kenny Frederick said: "We were promised autonomy in the latest education act, instead there is bullying and intimidation." The Department for Education argues this is the best way forward for an underperforming school.
But heads say that academy "brokers" employed by the Department for Education (DfE) are using unsavoury methods to push primary schools into opting out of their links with local authorities.
Ms Hunter, told the conference Mr Gove was like a "fanatical personal trainer" who was urging schools to jump higher and run faster.
And proposing the no confidence motion, head teacher Tim Gallagher said: "Enough is enough. This motion is intending to send the strongest message possible to this government that many of their education policies are failing children, their parents and the very fabric of their communities."
'Professional conduct''Professional conduct'
A DfE spokeswoman said: "Academy sponsors have already turned around hundreds of struggling schools across the country, and academy results are improving far faster than the national average. A DfE spokeswoman said: "Academy brokers help us to identify the best possible sponsor to turn around failing schools and ensure pupils are given every chance to fulfil their potential.
"Academy brokers help us to identify the best possible sponsor to turn around failing schools and ensure pupils are given every chance to fulfil their potential.
"We expect the highest levels of professional conduct from academy brokers and any allegations of misconduct are fully investigated.""We expect the highest levels of professional conduct from academy brokers and any allegations of misconduct are fully investigated."
Conservative MP Neil Carmichael, a member of the Education Select Committee, had earlier told told BBC Radio 5 live there were "too many schools" in special measures or coasting.
And he said pupils were leaving without the skills they need to compete in the world economy.
The NAHT is the biggest teachers union, representing 85% of primary heads and 40% of secondary heads in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.The NAHT is the biggest teachers union, representing 85% of primary heads and 40% of secondary heads in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It joins the three biggest teaching unions in England and Wales in formally opposing government education policy, but is the first head teachers' union to pass a no confidence motion. Stephen Twigg, Labour's shadow education secretary, said: "David Cameron and Michael Gove need to change course. They are damaging school standards by undermining teachers.
It represents a stepping up of their conflict with ministers over education changes. "It's no wonder given they are allowing unqualified teachers into our classrooms, teacher morale is at an all time low and 6,000 qualified teachers have left the profession on their watch.
"Labour would make sure all teachers are properly qualified and we would empower the best head teachers and teachers to drive up standards."