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| Head teachers pass no confidence in Gove education reforms | Head teachers pass no confidence in Gove education reforms |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Head teachers have passed a motion of no confidence in Michael Gove's education policies. | Head teachers have passed a motion of no confidence in Michael Gove's education policies. |
| The National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) said many of the education secretary's plans were not in the best interests of children. | The National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) said many of the education secretary's plans were not in the best interests of children. |
| It heard concerns about "forced academisation", the curriculum and the exams shake-up at its conference in Birmingham. | |
| Mr Gove said he had been "chastened" by some criticisms of his department. | Mr Gove said he had been "chastened" by some criticisms of his department. |
| He has been appearing at a question and answer session with heads at the conference. | He has been appearing at a question and answer session with heads at the conference. |
| Delegates had debated claims that head teachers are being bullied into turning their schools into academies - independently run, but state funded schools. | Delegates had debated claims that head teachers are being bullied into turning their schools into academies - independently run, but state funded schools. |
| 'Enough is enough' | 'Enough is enough' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The president of the NAHT, Bernadette Hunter, told the conference that Mr Gove is like a "fanatical personal trainer" who urges schools to jump higher and run faster. | The president of the NAHT, Bernadette Hunter, told the conference that Mr Gove is like a "fanatical personal trainer" who urges schools to jump higher and run faster. |
| She said the education secretary paid no heed to "the damage he is causing to the body or the system". | She said the education secretary paid no heed to "the damage he is causing to the body or the system". |
| Mr Gove told delegates he had been "delighted with the warmth and enthusiasm" that had greeted some the government's education policies. | Mr Gove told delegates he had been "delighted with the warmth and enthusiasm" that had greeted some the government's education policies. |
| "And on other occasions I have been chastened by the criticism we have had," he added. | "And on other occasions I have been chastened by the criticism we have had," he added. |
| There was a round of applause from conference delegates when it was suggested Mr Gove was a source of head teachers' stress. | |
| "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." | |
| He said it gave the union's leadership the mandate to oppose these policies in the "strongest manner possible". | He said it gave the union's leadership the mandate to oppose these policies in the "strongest manner possible". |
| 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". | 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". |
| He was particularly critical of the policy described by teaching unions as "forced academisation". | He was particularly critical of the policy described by teaching unions as "forced academisation". |
| "With this government, it's ideology gone mad," he said, with experts ignored and policy "written on the back of a fag packet". | "With this government, it's ideology gone mad," he said, with experts ignored and policy "written on the back of a fag packet". |
| It had ended up, he added, with civil servants working like "dodgy salesmen" as academy brokers trying to persuade schools to convert. | It had ended up, he added, with civil servants working like "dodgy salesmen" as academy brokers trying to persuade schools to convert. |
| And he highlighted a school in Croydon which was demanding a public inquiry into the alleged bullying tactics of such brokers. | And he highlighted a school in Croydon which was demanding a public inquiry into the alleged bullying tactics of such brokers. |
| Seconding the motion, fellow head Kenny Frederick said: "We were promised autonomy in the latest education act, instead there is bullying and intimidation." | Seconding the motion, fellow head Kenny Frederick said: "We were promised autonomy in the latest education act, instead there is bullying and intimidation." |
| '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 sponsors have already turned around hundreds of struggling schools across the country, and academy results are improving far faster than the national average. |
| "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| It represents a stepping up of their conflict with ministers over education changes. | It represents a stepping up of their conflict with ministers over education changes. |