Just as the government moves to impose badly thought out ineffective standards and massive compliance costs on schools the Associate Minister of Education has decided to come out swinging against Chopper Tolley:
It is very important that all schools are able to focus on the needs of students and parents, rather than on the demands of Government.
I want principals and teachers to lead learning; I want schools to get on with teaching and boards to provide proactive governance. Valuable time and energy shouldn’t be wasted on satisfying an over-powering and needless bureaucracy. Our sole aim needs to be delivering the best education outcomes for all children and young people so they have all the tools and opportunities with which to reach their full potential.
We need to place high trust in leaders at the front-line, and encourage and promote self-managing schools. This means strong educational leadership in every school is critical to achieving education goals be that state, integrated, independent, Rudolph Steiner – whatever the philosophy.
In that bit she sounds Labour!
The rest of the speech not as good but if you have time view it here.
How long can she last?