Michael Gove Passes The Test

January 13, 2012 By Malcolm Blair-Robinson

This blog was very critical of Michael Gove at the outset of his appointment as Education Secretary. My experience of educating an extended family over a span of forty odd years and two terms as a secondary school governor, convinced me that the current problems lay with an unsuitable curriculum, a squeamish approach to discipline, slavish adherence to policy and practice regardless of outcome and, above all, too many instances of poor quality teachers.

This latter point was critical. Not only were there bad teachers, but too many were fundamentally uneducated with poor degrees. They were easy to identify, but near impossible to get rid of. Moreover the process required so much delay that even if at last the failure left, a whole cohort of students had been let down.

On the other hand an allegation, however wild, of sexual harassment, meant the immediate suspension of a teacher pending an investigation. Yet an allegation of poor teaching, backed by complaints from parents, evident contempt of students and anxiety of leadership, allowed the suspect teacher to remain in post throughout the period of enquiry, which could last a year. It is important to consider that while sexual abuse of children is repugnant, imposing upon them an inept teacher is a life inhibiting abuse of those students’ trust in their school’s ability to provide them with the education they need, the effects of which will be not only negative but also lifelong.

Initially Michael Gove appeared driven by ideology about the style of a school rather than what it did. His overhauls of the exam system, the previously timid approach to discipline and the poor curriculum built confidence.  Now the ability to rid schools of duff teachers in a term is a real boost. In combination this all reverses our earlier negative view of his efforts.

There is a huge task ahead of him. Some of our students are so ill equipped on leaving school, that in a competitive market they are unemployable. Others are less well qualified than their peers in other countries which are our competitors. Some of the university degrees on offer are futile as a qualification. Unless all this is put right, decline of our living standards is certain. To arrest this trend is indeed a challenge. Mr. Gove deserves warm praise.