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Press Release

'Michael Gove's speech will add to the depression in teacher morale', says the NASUWT

5 October 2011

Commenting on the speech by Michael Gove. Secretary of State for Education, to the Conservative Party Conference 2011, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers' union, said:

“All children are eager to learn and all teachers want to be supported to teach. Academy schools are no different in that regard.

“Michael Gove has cynically used his address to the Conservative Party Conference to deliver a slick advertisement for his academies and free schools project, replete with prejudice and misinformation.

“His speech today was a naked attempt to win over public support for academies and free schools in the face of considerable public opposition.

“Great schools rely on sheer hard work, commitment and leadership that is focused on the job and that supports the work of classroom teachers.

“It is a damning indictment that the Secretary of State should have spent the whole of his time today celebrating the work of the minority of academy schools and free schools whilst ignoring the achievements of the vast majority of schools that are continuing to lead the way in delivering excellence for their pupils.

“The job of the Secretary of State for Education should be to speak up on behalf of all schools and not just a chosen few in the city of London.

“Michael Gove's speech will add to the depression in teacher morale right across the country.

“All the evidence confirms that our schools are doing a great job and that educational standards are amongst the best in the world.

“Michael Gove simply cannot resist distorting the truth. It is simply not correct to claim that England is falling behind the best in the world based on a flawed approach to the use of comparative data.

“Half of all teachers say they want to quit teaching altogether. If Michael Gove wants to resist the decline in teacher morale and make sure that teachers take pride in their profession, he should learn to speak up for all teachers.”



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