Nick Clegg turns on Michael Gove over his 'ideological' school reforms
The Tory-Liberal Democrat coalition has descended into open warfare over education policy as Nick Clegg dramatically disowned the "ideology" driving much of Michael Gove's controversial schools reform programme.
In a speech this week, extracts of which were released on Saturday night, the deputy prime minister will say that unqualified teachers should not be allowed to teach in state-funded schools and that parents need more reassurance about standards and the curriculum. "Parents don't want ideology to get in the way of their children's education," he will say....
Tristram Hunt, the shadow education secretary, said: "I'm delighted Nick Clegg has realised the dangers of an ideologically driven schools policy. We would be happy to work with him to reintroduce accountability, proper standards and qualified teachers in all our schools across the country."
Gove's department says that headteachers of academies or free schools should have the freedom to employ untrained teachers in the same way that private schools "hire the great linguists, scientists, engineers and other specialists they know can best teach and inspire their pupils".
(More at link):
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/19/clegg-gove-schools-education-policy
Too little too late, Nick - but at least Gove is getting SOME opposition now.
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