Those lambasting Gove might like to be aware that this is a rip off of the US KIPP programme, also under discussion for implementation under Gordon Brown, and also under study by the Scottish Executive (links on he thread In The News).
So say the policy is stupid, by all means, but remember that it's neither a Goveism, nor the first time it's come up.
Actually, I think this is a good example of one of those ideas at pops up intervals to stimulate discussion without there ever being a realistic chance of it being implemented. There are quite a few cyclical educational theories that do this.