Michael Gove - Conservative Shadow Schools and Families Minister - live on Mumsnet this Thursday 29th, 1-2pm

[JustineMumsnet]

Michael Gove is the shadow secretary of state for children, schools and families and a key part of David Cameron's Shadow Cabinet team, responsible for Conservative policy on education and child protection. He is the Tory candidate in Surrey Heath.One of the centrepiece's of the Conservatives election manifesto is allowing parents and other providers to set up schools with state funding, about which there's been lots of discussion on Mumsnet. Other pledges include 10,000 extra university places, allowing state schools to offer the International Baccalaureate and a moratorium on the closure of special schools.Born in Edinburgh in 1967 and brought up in Aberdeen. Before He's married to Times' writer Sarah Vine and they have a son and a daughter, both of primary school age.Please post advance questions for Michael here (and do please read our webchat guidelines if you're not already aware of them).Many thanks.

Hmm, my question which I posted on Tuesday wasn't answered - any reason?

Looks like it was a good webchat too.

I feel snubbed... and I've always liked Mr Gove...

Marking my place to come back and read when The Cub isn't being 'interesting'.

WellIDidn'tWantABoringChildGah!Tiggaxx

i am gutted he dindt asnwer susylvesters q
a short one right at the beginning

has he ever been into a school and watched a whole lesson?

thats all

He never answered my question either , which confirms what I thought about this policy of setting up schools yourself - its all guff. They don't get into the detail because they haven't got a clue themselves about how it would work.

A bit like Nick Clegg and his 20 kids per class eh?

so we can conclude he has NEVER been into a seconday school
mikey - how about the week after next.
come and see year nine.

I'd love to host him.

Yr9 Set 3, lesson 6 on Thursday.

MFL.

I think he can also concede that the party hasn't thought out any plans behind its 'more health visitors' pledge either which MG mentioned again but didn't elaborate despite me asking more than 24 hrs before the webchat.

OGIC- you spelled that correctly- either you're an imposter, or really concerned about this

sethstarkaddersmum (btw... how is he doing in Hollywood? - saying 'parents like them' is a bit akin to saying 'all them eastern europeans'- it's glib and meaningless. I am a parent- I don't like them. I know many many parents, many of whom do not like faith schools. As you say- not much detail there was there?

Oracle are you new to NMN? Just i;ve never seen you here before and your opiniosna re intriguing (though I disagree with some- my asd child thrives in a mixed SNU, and I have serious misgivings with some of Simon B-C's approach)

yes
govey has answered the "new" posters qs
a nd not the teachers'

People always answer the questions nearest to the time they are about to start. It is the same with every chat - get the questions as near to the start time as possible- and they will answer. Tis way of world - fraid he can't tell who is a teacher from the questions

it was an easy q
if iw as on a web chat id ANSWER the qs in word BEFORE then paste the already posted ones asap

BTW, Mr Gove, the constituency in which I teach is one in the Labour badlands heartland which this election your party has targeted as it now thinks it can win a seat here.

Hague was campaigning here just last Tuesday. Maybe a visit from you at our very big and pupular comprehensive can bring your party into the limelight here again.

I'm sure my headteacher will be happy to host you too.

But most people dont get webchats and come totally unprepared and think it is as it says on the tin - a chat

What is the point in opening the thread before the chat if there is no point in posting the Qs beforehand?

Bad form to come unprepared. David Cameron did the same. Surely they have slaves "people" to help them prepare for stuff like this?

He didnt answer my question and i posted not long before it started!

Didn't answer my question either re. 'fairness' and having a private education system in tandem with a state education system. Still not v surprised really....don't expect he wants to get into that can of worms, him being a Tory 'an all.

SanctiMoanyArse actually I am 'old' here although I have not posted here for a long time. Probably just as well given the mistake I made today

I do not think that there is a one size fits all approach for autistic children because they are all so different. We require a menu of provision but I am not sure that we will ever get it.

Re Simon Baron Cohen even with out his stats the numbers of children with autism do appear to be rising so that needs to be taken into account.

whose question DID he answer

He answered mine and I'm not "new"

Hmm.

No answer for me either. And he had plenty of time to prepare. Posted it on Monday.

Couldn;t join the chat today, 'cos I was working. In school.

And he could tell I was a teacher because I said so. Hmm.

Oh absolutely I agree Oracle about rising (you probably know me as Peachy? 2 kids with ASD, half an MA in ASD LOL) but my issues with Simon baron Cohen are that he focuses so heavily on HFA kids, which is only a aprt of the picture, and I am afraid that his argument about not terminating ASD chidlren becuase it may result in a loss in maths geniuses or similar completely missed the point of the individual worth of disablee chidlren in themselves

Totally agree about a mixed menu- atm I have one in an SNU and one in MS looking at AS Base in 2011

Damn, I missed it. Otherwise I could have pointed out that he completely failed to answer my question. In fact, I'm quite annoyed that he seems to have deliberately missunderstood what I said. I don't want any more divisive faith schools. I don't think they give a better education. I just want the local schools that are funded by my taxes to be open to all children, not just the select few.