State of the parties as 2015 General Election looms.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Are you saying that the government has not consulted professional bodies, in relation to its education policy? I thought it had.

You thought wrongly then. The Free Schools idea was foisted upon him by the discredited Chris Woodhead. G***'s other influences were:-
1. the American system
2. Free schools in Scandinavia - not too successful there either
3. Independent Schools here, though the buffoon refuses to enable """Academies""" to have the same teacher/pupil ratio.
4. A wish to remove stable incomes for teachers by allowing Academies to opt out of the national pay and conditions.
5. When he was at school.
6. When Mr Bumble was Beadle.

Professional bodies? One of his first actions was to abolish the General Teaching Council - a clever move, as it had the potential to wipe the floor with him.

[Serial_Apologist]

Why is the whole thing so totally ballsed up then? Answer; because politically-motivated charlatans are in charge.

Politically-motivated is all right because we all are. Charlatans needs further definition to pass muster to the high standards of integrity consistently met by the contributions on this thread... :whistlenonchalantlyemoticon:

[Beef Oven!]

I wonder if anyone can give an answer to my question, without getting emotional.

The question is, I assumed that in drafting education policies, such as "Increasing opportunities for young people and helping them to achieve their potential", that the government would have given professionals who are involved in education in the UK, an opportunity to have their say and influence the policy. I would expect the government to listen to professionals and consider their views, adopting some things and rejecting others. A fairly straight-forward consultation - has this not happened?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The question is, I assumed that in drafting education policies, such as "Increasing opportunities for young people and helping them to achieve their potential", that the government would have given professionals who are involved in education in the UK, an opportunity to have their say and influence the policy. I would expect the government to listen to professionals and consider their views, adopting some things and rejecting others. A fairly straight-forward consultation - has this not happened?

Mr Gove has persistently refused to do this. He thinks he know best.

[visualnickmos]

Mr Gove has persistently refused to do this. He thinks he know best.

Beef Oven, meet Mr Gove; Mr Gove, meet Beef Oven

[MrGongGong]

Beef Oven, meet Mr Gove; Mr Gove, meet Beef Oven

We've been round this before I think
but mr O seems more impressed by a shiny suit than anything resembling real information

[Beef Oven!]

We've been round this before I think
but mr O seems more impressed by a shiny suit than anything resembling real information

I've got better suits than Gove, so that cuts no ice with me.

Edit: You have probably got better suits than Gove, Harry, so maybe I am not saying much.

[Beef Oven!]

Mr Gove has persistently refused to do this. He thinks he know best.

He hasn't even had views from professionals, through a simple process, never mind considered them?

[jean]

That's about it.

[MrGongGong]

He hasn't even had views from professionals, through a simple process, never mind considered them?

What are you getting at?
I'm assuming that you are going to whip a consultation document out of your hat to show what a good egg he was.
What he DID achieve was to unite almost the entire teaching profession, including those who were lifelong conservative voters, in their opposition to his meddling nonsense.

[Beef Oven!]

That's about it.

Oh dear. Well although I agree with the policy, I don't think that's how to go about it.

[MrGongGong]

Oh dear. Well although I agree with the policy, I don't think that's how to go about it.

That's not a "policy" though is it?
I mean is someone proposing one that suggests schools should actively discourage students so they end up unfulfilled and miserable?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I think it's time to press the "ignore" button when such uninformed nonsense is being hurled about.

[Beef Oven!]

That's not a "policy" though is it?
I mean is someone proposing one that suggests schools should actively discourage students so they end up unfulfilled and miserable?

Well it's the current policy, and I think that you are being a little bit silly to say that the policy actively discourages students so they end up unfulfilled and miserable. It is a good policy and it seems that Gove does know best.

[Beef Oven!]

I think it's time to press the "ignore" button when such uninformed nonsense is being hurled about.

Get out of school-master mode. No-one is hurling anything. People are exchanging views, that's all. You can talk like that at home, or at work, but not here. Behave. And please do press the "ignore" button.