This week 1000’s of state schools will have their end of term Sports Days and then in addition to the other things planned, 10’s of 1000’s of teachers will begin the work involved in adjusting their teaching plans and visual aids to ensure that in September they are teaching the new national curriculum which has just been introduced by Michael Gove. It was disturbing to hear him speak on Radio4 two weeks ago when he debated his latest ideas with a representative of the profession which will soon be called upon to implement these ideas. Unlike some members of the Cabinet, we know that Mr Gove had modest beginnings in social terms. His first experience of servants was presumably at Lady Margaret Hall when he arrived in Oxford. Despite this he spoke in a manner that appeared to show contempt for those who he expected to carry out his plans. When the Teachers representative pointed out the challenge of implementing these changes in such as short period Gove acted as though he had greater faith in the teachers than their own representative. Yet here he was introducing a new curriculum with only three weeks to go before the end of a busy term and without sharing this new structure with any of those who he needed to win over.

Every generation or so, an educational policy goes into folklore as being significant enough to be remembered long after the change has been absorbed. I recall the milk being snatched by Mrs Thatcher, my Son remembers the loss of play time at the hands of Mr Blair. It seems inevitable that Michael Gove himself will be remembered for generations to come as someone who took on the teachers, not for any failed working practices, but on a matter where they should have been allies. Ironically the high handed attitude which Mr Gove exudes on virtually every interview leads to anger, even from teachers in Academies who are no longer obliged to adopt the curriculum.

As teachers prepare for their last few days at work (unless they have already broken up) they will be able to take some time to reflect on their year of hard work educating the nation. I hope that they get the chance to rest and recharge their batteries, and that they appreciate that their hard work is something we all value.