Derek McMillan
Haringey protest against academy school , photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
Are you a teacher whose school is short of cash? Have you been warned of ‘hard times ahead’ and possible redundancies?
Of course you have. We all have to ‘tighten our belts’ in these times of austerity. We have to ‘harden our hearts’ because the cupboard is bare. As it’s panto season I’m tempted to say “Oh no it isn’t.”
Enter the bad fairy Michael Gove. His contribution to this situation? A profligate overspend on his pet academy programme of £1 billion. If your school has had to cut down on paper and pencils, not to mention teachers, just think about that.
The BBC reports that the National Audit Office says the overspend was because Gove’s Department for Education was apparently “not prepared” for the increase in the number of academies. Not prepared for his own policy?
Gove may keep his cabinet colleagues in the dark about his plans but I didn’t know he hid them from himself as well.
With barefaced mockery Gove “makes no apology” for spending money on a scheme which has been “proven to drive up standards.” With academies going into special measures, I repeat “Oh no it isn’t!”
No wonder teachers are tired of this crew. Gove apologised (in the Radio Times) to his French teacher 30 years too late for his disgusting behaviour as a stroppy teenager. No doubt he will apologise to all teachers and parents and pupils 30 years down the line. It isn’t good enough, is it?
In an unprecedented move, the NASUWT and NUT teaching unions are acting together in “action short of strike action” but Gove turns a deaf ear. It is time to escalate the action.
