A major reshuffle of ministerial posts has seen Michael Gove axed as education minister.
And it’s been welcomed by a Kirklees union leader who only last week said ‘Gove must go’ to cheers of striking teachers.
The minister was divisive among education experts and Hazel Danson of Kirklees NUT said the reshuffle, which sees Nicky Morgan become Education Secretary, offers them the chance to start afresh.
Mrs Danson said: “We are pleased that he has gone from education, I’m just worried that some of the damage has already been done.
“I think for us it provides an opportunity to start afresh, for a new minister to come and engage with us and resolve the disputes we’ve faced. It’s a case of wait and see for the moment.
“I don’t know much about the new minister, but Gove was widely disliked among teachers, teaching unions and people involved in education
“My own view is that I’d like politics to be take out of education, in some northern European countries the politicians set the direction, but it’s industry experts - the professors and teachers - who set the curriculum.
“I think we should move education away from politics so it doesn’t become used as political ping pong because our children’s education is too important to be messed with.”
Mr Gove is now the Chief Whip with a brief to promote the Government’s message in broadcast interviews ahead of next year’s general election.
Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said: “Michael Gove has clearly lost the support of the profession and parents for justifiable reasons.
“His vision for education is simply wrong. His pursuit of the unnecessary and often unwanted free schools and academies programme, the use of unqualified teachers, the failure to address the school place crisis and endless ill-thought out reforms to examinations and the curriculum have been his hallmark in office.
“We remain in dispute over the direction of Government policy, which we believe is undermining the education service.
“We will be seeking a very early meeting with Nicky Morgan, the incoming Education Secretary, and we look forward to not only a new personality but a more conciliatory approach."
Ministers and MPs continue to learn their fate today - so far Prime Minister David Cameron has promoted Defence Secretary Philip Hammond to replace William Hague as Foreign Secretary, with the Richmond MP becoming Leader of the Commons before quitting as an MP next year
Liz Truss, who recently visited Moor End Academy and Rastrick High School, becomes the youngest member of Cabinet at 38 after being appointed Environment Secretary to replace Owen Paterson.
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