Did I just hear this right? Is Michael Gove blaming bullying on teachers and sayng the answer is to be able to sack them more easily?

[OhBuggerandArse]

On Today just now.

Oh how I loathe him.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-16535191

Antlers - I have linked to the BBC report on this above and no mention is made of parents assessing teachers. I was unaware of this particular component of the process. I think parents have a right to complain if they feel a teacher is falling short though. However, that complaint needs to be referred to HT etc. as per the correct process. All Gove seems to be saying is that the process needs to move a little quicker.

Have I missed something?

Why are they being so vocal about teachers though?

Why not Radiologists or Occupational Tharapists or Psychiatrists .....??

Animation somthing we should all lobby the health minster about

Perhaps there aren't the doubts about the performance of radiologists etc. that there are about the performance of some teachers.

"Gove said: "You wouldn't tolerate an underperforming surgeon in an operating theatre, or a underperforming midwife at your child's birth."

I guess we do - outsiders don't go in there to monitor them.

AntlersInAllOfMyDecorating why are your worried if your a good teacher then don't worry

Only the incompetant should be worried

Their are many teachers who do well the things you described and inspire, reach the hearts and minds of their students and bring learning to life

What I won't expcept and nor should any one is that bad teachers should not be rooted out the only people to benefit form the staus quo is bad teachers

We heard this story on the news on the way to school this morning. Ds (7) said that's good. Mr X (head teacher) will now be able to sack Mrs Y (his teacher). Have to say that I think it would be a very good move indeed!

AntlersInAllOfMyDecorating

If you believe that only 18 teachers have been incompetant in the last 40 years then you are very naive or are at a very good school

Antlers, parents aren't qualified in the way that you are. Nobody is saying that they are. I don't think in reality that many parents will be desperate to spend hours in school watching their kids in lessons. Presumably they have their own lives and the majority of teachers are mighty fine. But if there are concerns then some visibility wouldn't be a bad thing. My DS's state primary school holds open mornings one morning every month - it all seems to work quite well.

The fact is that the current system of using Ofsted inspectors, who presumably are qualified to assess you, doesn't seem to be working brilliantly.

If we carry on doing the same things we will keep getting the same results - which seems to be lots of failing schools and a growing number of semi literate and semi numerate 16 year olds.

Antlers, I get that. Look on the bright side - nurses aren't far behind you.

wasabipeanut the only thing I was dissapoined at is that gov did not make all inspection by ofsted unannounced this bunisess of giving 2 or three days notice is a bit and this issue of the coaching of teaches at these examinations seminars

So do we really think that people in other professions are not asked to leave quietly, given a good reference or moved to other duties when they show signs of incompetence?!
I worry about head teachers having more power - I worked with one who made it quite plain she disliked me and questioned every aspect of my work. She was convinced I was (along with other colleagues in early years) the worst in the school. Imagine her horror when ofsted found that actually I was an excellent teacher and that early years was an asset to the school, and was the best thing about the school
If it had been down to her though I would probably have been sacked - surely independent monitoring is best?

I agree soverylucky that constant tinkering with the education system doesn't really help anybody - least of all the pupils. However, on the subject of the buildings, the last government build loads of shiny new school buildings and standards continued to drop. I don't think you can blame external factors only for falling standards. Some (not all by any means) bit some, has to be down to the quality of teaching.

Equally, problems in society that you allude to - yes, it causes no end of grief for teachers. But to explain away constant poor results with "well, what can you expect with our catchment?" and then blaming motivated parents for rejecting such schools isn't acceptable. Well, not to me anyway.

All kids should have the right to a decent education, not just the ones whose parents can buy houses in the best school catchments.

"I worry about head teachers having more power"

I do too.

Adult bullying is particularly prevalent in the teaching profession.