Tristran Hunt seems not to be the "golden boy" I had hoped.

[grovel]

He was savaged by Gove in the Commons today because he has been lazy with the truth.

It transpires that there are now fewer non QTS in the state system than under Labour. He argues that Academy and Free schools have 150% more non QTS than under Labour. True - but the number of children in these schools has risen by 400% so the proportion is down.

He argues that education is crumbling under the Tories but, according to OFSTED, "good" and "outstanding" lessons have risen by 4% under the coalition.

To fight someone as forensic as Gove, you'd better be accurate.

We've got two of them shooting from the hip.

Oh, and that Leeds school advertising for a non QTS Maths teacher was trying to recruit a trainee. Under its statutes it is allowed no QTS at all.

Are you surprised? You cannot put a cigarette paper between the main political parties on most of the main political agendas and that includes the present educational policy. The genie on increasing parental choice, school autonomy, deliberalisation, curriculum reviews, tougher exam grades etc is out of the lamp and will not be reversed by any of them except round the edges.

Gove may not be popular but, as you say, he has a very sharp brain. Not that QTS rates will have much resonance with the public who I doubt are much interested.

Oddsins, thank you. I just wanted Gove challenged. Hunt just appears a chancer. Sad.

Regards the Leeds School, well it was a bloody rubbish advert then. And, surely a trainee maths teacher should have more than a C in Maths!

I agree. Gove feels like a ideologue with a bullying tendency. But don't lots of politicians fit that description. He is well matched by the Head of Ofsted - that is a man with a plan and doesn't take No for an answer.

The bigger issue is that in UK politics the middle of the road is very crowded at present with a few outliers on either side (Gove is perhaps one).

I am no fan of Gove , but Hunt is just a feckin' chancer.

No substance to him. Used to blagging his way.

What on earth is Milleband doing?