Phillipson: Leave London to see scale of schools crisis

A war of words has erupted over Bridget Phillipson’s school reforms, with the education secretary urging critics to try leaving London for a change”.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

Ms Phillipson said she was being attacked by Tory shadow ministers and “their friends in the commentariat” all based in the capital, with many academies outside London struggling or failing altogether.

She wrote in The Daily Telegraph: “Opposition shadow ministers and their friends in the commentariat should try leaving London for a change: they’ll find plenty of underperforming academies which need new answers to drive up standards in their classrooms.”

It came after former education secretary Michael Gove and exOfsted chief Amanda Spielman rounded on her over planned changes to academy schools and a review of the curriculum.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Gove said Ms Phillipson’s plans risked “blighting the prospects of children and holding our economy back”.

“I am concerned that the emphasis on ambition and rigour in the education system will be diluted,” he said.

Mr Gove added: “Any attempt to divert and water down the commitment to excellence will be to surrender to the trade union-led war on knowledge at a time when the government at last begins to get it right on defence, welfare and health.”

Labour’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill aims to ensure all state schools – academies and those run by councils – follow the same pay and conditions framework.