Calling All Teachers

Published on by debrakidd

Dear All,

I never imagined when I got up in the early hours of the morning on April 8th to get something off my chest that it would have such an impact. My idea was simple – 1oo Academics, 1000 teachers. I imagined it would take weeks to get to this point. It took 100 hours for 1400 people to sign. They keep on coming in- almost 4000 parents and teachers have signed.

The link to sign is at http://www.thinking-about-education.co.uk .

Last week we made front page headline news in The Independent and the same evening , the Channel 4 news. I will continue to campaign to keep this issue in the minds of the media so that parents and children are able to hear what research says about the education system.

 To those of you who have already signed I cannot thank you enough. We have stood, shoulder to shoulder, from public school to PRU, from nursery to night school to ask one simple thing. That a man who is so committed to facts makes sure that he uses them.

THE REAL ENEMY OF PROMISE….

Before the Easter break, almost 100 academics drawn from the spectrum of educational research and practice, published a letter in The Independent querying the wisdom of Michael Gove’s changes to the curriculum. The response from the Secretary of State for education was astonishing to say the least. He claimed that the academics belonged to a sinister ‘blob’ dedicated to ruining the lives of children. He claimed that they were Marxist. He called them, and anyone who might associate with them, ‘enemies of promise’. On Question Time, he glibly noted that he could find 100 ‘good’ academics who would agree with him. To date, he has not. The 100 academics, on the other hand, have found support in the teaching profession and beyond. Around 1000 of them have attached their names to this rebuttal. They are people working in and with education on a daily basis. Many of them are also parents. They are drawn from primary, secondary, FE and HE sectors; from state schools, private schools, grammar schools, international schools and academies. They are tired of the way that educational research is being misappropriated by the current secretary of state. They are tired of a ‘yadda yadda’ approach to this crucial job – if I hear something I disagree with, I’ll just shout over it. They are astonished that a man appointed to serve the education system behaves like a child who has not yet learned to listen and to respect boundaries.

Michael Gove has used, frequently, the words of cognitive psychologist Daniel Willingham to support his notions that the curriculum should be based on the acquisition of facts. Gove’s interpretation of this idea is that the curriculum should consist of nothing but facts, but Willingham argues in much of his work, that critical thinking is essential in learning and that all knowledge learned should be supported by thinking. Futhermore, he warns that in the United States, a similar programme led to teachers ‘giving children lots and lots of facts at the expense of critical thinking.’ Far from attacking thinking skills, as Gove suggests, Willingham values them, when taught within context and points out that ‘we’d love to test critical thinking if we knew how to test critical thinking. But we really don’t. So what we tend to do is test factual knowledge.’ While it is clear that Willingham supports a focus on knowledge, he voices concerns about high stakes testing and the isolation of the teaching of knowledge into rote facts.  Indeed, all of the academics and teachers listed at the end of this article would fully support an education system in which children acquire knowledge, but it is how this knowledge is acquired and tested which forms the bone of contention. The education of our young is too important to leave to opinion and ideology. It requires evidence and thought.

This was a position that Michael Gove adopted when he came to office. He appointed ‘experts’ to advise him. Some of those experts have signed this letter. Others have publicly voiced concerns about the way he has ignored their evidence. Let’s take the expert panel on the National Curriculum as an example. In the report that the panel submitted, there was an entire chapter, based on decades of research that oracy underpinned academic success. This can be quite hard to understand if one considers that few examinations take a verbal form, but our written thoughts stem from the speeches we form in our heads. In order to be lucid on the page, we need to be lucid in our minds and practising the articulation of ideas is key to this. It is one of the reasons that the private sector places so much emphasis on debate. It is why Oxbridge universities continue to fund the hugely expensive tutorial system. It is why many of our leading orators – and Michael Gove is one of them – hone their skills in a debating society such as The Oxford Union. It is why we interview people face to face for jobs. Think for a moment of a working life in adulthood in which presentations, participations in meetings or any other form of communication was not essential. Research shows that vocabulary in child hood is a key indicator of future academic success and that building vocabulary and articulacy is essential in bridging that gap between children from disadvantaged and advantaged backgrounds. This chapter has been completely ignored in Gove’s proposals. In fact most of the advice offered by the panel has been ignored, leading to the resignation of all but one of the original expert panel.

Policy on literacy was based on the advice of an expert in the way children develop reading skills – Debra Myhill and the founder of a widely used system of teaching of synthetic phonics – Ruth Miskin. Both have voiced concerns in the past few weeks at the way the government has ignored their advice. They describe the tests as ‘flawed’ and warn that they will lead to ‘poor teaching’. Indeed the DfE’s own research paper into ‘what works’ in teaching children to read warns against teaching and testing grammar ‘out of context’. So, Mr. Gove, where are your good academics – the ones who agree with you? They cannot all be enemies of promise.

Mr. Gove’s oratory skills and his ability to tap into the deepest fears of parents mean that his policies often find support in voters whose access to information is viewed through the lens of a privately educated media. These fears are seated in a belief that standards are falling and that Britain is failing to compete internationally with other systems. But if one explores the data from the OECD – the organization who administers the international PISA tests, we find some interesting ideas which do not at all sit in accordance with Michael Gove’s policies. Firstly, the tests are not based on knowledge, but the application of knowledge in ‘novel situations’. The highest performing countries have students who are able to think critically and innovatively to apply the knowledge they have. The OECD data throws up some other interesting facts. For example when the factor of class is removed, British state schools outperform private schools. In the highest performing countries, teachers are more highly valued than any other profession – in Finland for example, rather than being viewed as ‘enemies of promise’, they set and mark their own tests, are all educated to Masters level and enroll on university courses which are more competitive than Medicine or Law. In fact, the key unifying characteristics of those successful countries is the autonomy of the teaching profession and the regard in which it is held. It is difficult to see how Michael Gove’s attacks on the profession, or his changes to the curriculum help us to compete on an international stage.

It is difficult, when one reads the research written by those that Michael Gove admires, including the Marxist, Gramsci, to find the evidence that supports the highly selective interpretations that Gove incorporates into his policies. He glibly makes statements, presented as facts, which have no basis in reality at all. His statement that ‘you cannot be creative unless you understand how sentences are constructed’ denies the existence of childhood and yet it is delivered as a fact. If challenging this anti-intellectual reasoning makes us bad academics, or raising our concerns makes us bad teachers in the eyes of the Secretary of State, then so be it.

Let us repeat that we do not oppose the acquisition of knowledge. Nor do we oppose the idea that all children should succeed. We instead question the removal of skills from that process. We question the wisdom of the decontextualized testing of knowledge and the notion that there should be high stakes testing in which children’s futures become fixed once and for all. Michael Gove’s proposals for examination changes are akin to altering the driving test to the theory only examination and removing the option to retake the test. Despite the fact that it took six attempts for him to pass his own driving test, in schools Gove proposes the removal of second chances and mistakes. It amounts to the removal of hope and that is the real enemy of promise in this debate.

Signatories

 

Teachers:-

(AST stands for Advanced Skills Teacher, an alternative career path for teachers who wish to remain teaching rather than pursuing management roles)

 

  1. Debra Kidd – AST Teaching and Learning, Secondary State.
  2. Louise Astbury – Head of English and MFL, Sixth Form College, Examiner.
  3. Serena Dawson – MFL teacher, Secondary State.
  4. Jackie Schneider – Teacher, Primary State.
  5. Michael Tidd – Year Leader, Middle School State.
  6. Tim Taylor – AST, Primary State.
  7. Rosie Marcus, Director of Programmes, CAPE UK.
  8. Mark Coates – AST English, Secondary State
  9. Julie Wright – KS3 Humanities Co-ordinator, Secondary State.
  10. Sally Dennis – Year 6 and 7 teacher – 3-18 Academy school.
  11. Alison Anderton – Teacher, State Primary.
  12. Pete Benson – Teacher of Theatre – International School
  13. Rebecca Patterson – PGCE Tutor – Higher Education
  14. Emma Owen – Head of English – Secondary State.
  15. David Richards – Teacher – Primary.
  16. Mike Devitt – Principal Moderator – English A Level. Former teacher in both State and Independent sector.
  17. Claire Roberts – Deputy Headteacher – Primary.
  18. Trisha Lee – Teacher and author of ‘Teaching Mathematics Creatively’ – Secondary and Cultural Sector
  19. Rebecca Stacey – Deputy Headteacher – Primary.
  20. Stephanie Oswald, PGCE tutor
  21. Shanti Lall – Teacher of English – Secondary Academy.
  22. Ruth Bennie – Headteacher – Primary.
  23. Ian Startup – AST – State Secondary.
  24. Louise Clark – EYFS/Primary specialist and Artistic Director of Libellulewings Theatre.
  25. Jonny Greemshields – Teacher, Secondary State
  26. Ross Bolwell – Williams – Creative Projects Co-ordinator, Make Believe Arts. International.
  27. Cathryn Throup – Deputy Headteacher – State Primary.
  28. Mollie Weston – Teacher – State Primary
  29. Natalie Masala – Teacher – State Secondary.
  30. Liz Hague – Creative Practitioner – Cultural Sector
  31. Jon Paul Mason – AST Mathematics – State Secondary.
  32.  Tasneem Dhansey – Science Teacher – Secondary Academy.
  33. Jez Gregg – Teacher of Theatre – International.
  34. Mark Edwards – Principal – Primary Academy
  35.  Becky Shickle – Teacher – State Primary.
  36. Karen Whitehead – Head of Faculty – State Secondary
  37. Ase Eliason Bjurstrom – Teacher – International
  38. Will Wade – Learning Assistant – Further Education.
  39. Joanne Mimnagh – PGCE Tutor.
  40. Hywel Roberts – AST and author of ‘Oops – helping children to learn Accidentally’
  41. Charles Parker, Deputy Head, State Secondary
  42. Jane Hewitt – AST and consultant.
  43. Sean Macnamara – Teacher – Primary State
  44. Katie Ward – Head of Sixth Form – Secondary.
  45. Sue Coates – Teacher – Primary.
  46. Lee Willscroft–Ferris – MFL Teacher – Secondary State.
  47. Nicola Murray – Head of Department – Secondary National Teaching School and Academy.
  48. Emily Young – Senior Lecturer Physical Education– H.E.
  49. Kate Bean – Senior Lecturer in Primary Education. Former Headteacher.
  50. Joe Trier – Literacy Co-ordinator – Primary.
  51. Simon Withey – Head of Department – Secondary Special Education
  52. David Boulton – Teacher of Physics – Secondary State.
  53. Jayne Williams – Teacher of Art – Secondary Academy.
  54. Ondrie Mann –  Lead Teacher – 3 – 18 Academy.
  55. Jen Mann – Teacher of Geography – Secondary Academy
  56. Allan Kidd – Course Leader – Sixth Form College.
  57. Lozi Murias – Teacher – Primary State.
  58. Dr. Richard Lodge – Head of English – Secondary State
  59. Beccy Panter – Teaching assistant – Primary State.
  60. Rebecca Farnworth – NQT – Primary State.
  61. Claire Pearce – Deputy Headteacher – Primary State.
  62. Phil Whitney – English Course Co-ordinator, Secondary State.
  63. Christopher Heaps –  Teacher – Primary State.
  64. Rachel Gregory Billington – School Governor – Secondary Academy
  65. Paul McGinity – Peripatetic Music Teacher.
  66. Matt Wright – AST – Secondary Academy
  67. Laura Newman – History Teacher – Secondary
  68. Steve Piggot – Assistant Headteacher – 11-18 Seocndary.
  69. Nick Chandley – Philosophy For Children Consultant and Trainer.
  70. Christine Martin – English Teacher and A Level Examiner – Secondary
  71. Alan Thomas – Teacher – Sixth Form College
  72. Victoria Firbank – Teacher
  73. Suzanne Gannon – English  – Sixth Form College
  74. Jay Whiting – Deputy Headteacher – Secondary
  75. Jan Whiting – Teacher – Primary PRU
  76. Clare Benton – Teacher – Primary
  77. Anne Westland – Teacher of English/KS 5 Coordinator – Secondary
  78. Mark Smith – Teacher of Mathematics – Secondary
  79. Jane Constantine – English 11-18 – Secondary
  80. Joanne Parish – Head of Finance and parent – ISTA.
  81. Nicola Towle – Teacher – Primary
  82. Taryn Elliot – RE Teacher  Secondary
  83. Alix Thatcher – Teacher – Independent sector.
  84. Caroline Newton – Grandparent and stakeholder
  85. Claire Corrigan – Teacher of Sociology – Sixth Form College
  86. Jo Hulme – Deputy Headteacher – Primary
  87. John Connor – MFL consultant, AST assessor
  88. Suzannah Reeves – Head of Humanities, School Governor,
  89. Rebecca Bell – School Governor, Director of Integrate Education
  90. Moira Nolan – Assistant Headteacher –Secondary
  91. Alex Belios – MFL Teacher – Secondary
  92. Tricia Kellerher – Principal – Independent School
  93. Sarah Angill – Teacher- Primary
  94. Charles Richardson – Teacher and ITT Trainer – Primary
  95. Anna Harries – English Teacher – Sixth Form College
  96. Gordon Baillie – AST – Secondary
  97. Angela David – Drama Teacher – International School
  98. Judith Tigerschoild – Headteacher – Primary
  99. Rachel Watkins – AST English – Secondary
  100. Lynne Donaldson – English – Secondary
  101. Ian Gilbert – International Educational Publisher and Author of ‘Super Teaching’ and ‘The Learning Revolution’ among others.
  102. Amy Sharp – English Teacher  Secondary
  103. Lucie Trickett – Drama teacher – Secondary
  104. Sarah Wilson – DT teacher – Secondary
  105. Tom Schultz – Director of Theatre – International (Singapore)
  106. Ian Baker – Teacher – International
  107. Justin Bulpett – English Teacher – Secondary
  108. Lou Liddle-McGhee – AST History – Secondary
  109. Dawn Liddle-McGhee – TA – Special Education
  110. Andrew Horsley – Teacher of Exploration (Maths / Humanities)– Secondary
  111. Elspeth Mackie – English teacher – International
  112. Claire Teach – Teacher – EYFS
  113. John Wilks – General Secretary of the London Association for the Teaching of English.
  114. Katharine McBride – Teacher of English – Secondary.
  115. Chris Wakely – MFL Advisor and former Ofsted Inspector.
  116. Rachael Edgar – Teacher of English – International.
  117. Ruth Horsley – Teacher – Primary.
  118. Joanne Hennesey – Teacher – Primary.
  119. Ian Callaghan – Teacher – Secondary.
  120. Joanne Humphrey – English Teacher – International.
  121. Wendy Banks – English Co-ordinator – International.
  122. Tess McGivney – Lecturer – HE
  123. Anthea Hilson – Headteacher – Infant and EYFS.
  124. Erica Robinson – Teacher of English – Secondary Academy
  125. Dr. Carol Azumah Dennis – Programme Director – Life Long Learning. University of Hull.
  126. Rachel J Ramaker – Teacher – Primary.
  127. Mark Edwards – Principal – Academy.
  128. Barbara Clarke – Assistant Headteacher – Primary.
  129. Sarah Doherty – Teacher – Secondary
  130. Emma Caudwell – Teacher and Specialist Dyslexia Teacher – Primary.
  131. Matthew Donohue – Teacher – Primary.
  132. Gillie Kerrod – Youth Theatre Teacher – Cultural Sector.
  133. Shirley Harrison – SLT Teacher Leader – Secondary Academy.
  134. Elizabeth Challinor – Teacher – Primary.
  135. Leena Robertson – ITT Tutor – HE
  136. Dave Edwards – Teacher – Secondary
  137. Owein Prenderghast – Art and Design Lecturer – FE
  138. Fiona West – Head of Science – Secondary State
  139. Peter Haveland – Art and Design Teacher – FE and HE
  140. Allan Boxer – Former Primary Headteacher, Freelance Music teacher.
  141. Ali Johns – Subject Leader, Mathematics – Secondary State
  142. Jessica Rafferty – Teacher – Primary State
  143. Caron Rainton – Teacher of English – Sixth Form College
  144. Christine Savage – Head of English – Sixth Form College
  145. Elle Elliot – Trainee Teacher – Primary
  146. Kevin Lawton – ICT tutor – Sixth Form College
  147. Liam Spires – Teacher – Primary
  148. Lesley Gibbens – Assistant Headteacher – Secondary State.
  149. Lizzie Hode – Teacher, Primary.
  150. Andy Eachus – E-learning manager – Sixth Form College
  151. Peter Roberts – Vice Principal – Sixth Form College
  152. Katherine Edwards – Teacher of History and founder of historynotpropaganda.weebly.com
  153. Natalie Ford – Head of PSHE – Secondary State
  154. Jane Mearns – Year 5 teacher – Primary
  155. Stephen Finegold – Youth Theatre Teacher – Cultural Sector
  156. Louise Poole – Head of Music – Secondary State
  157. Sara Petts – Teacher of Biology – Sixth Form College
  158. Stephanie Holt – Teacher of Law – Sixth Form College
  159. Nicola Barthorpe – Director of Humanities – Secondary Academy.
  160. Laura Latham – Senior Teacher – Primary
  161. Fran Keayes – English Teacher – Secondary.
  162. Jess Edwards – Teacher – Primary Academy.
  163. Eleanor Robinson – Teacher – Primary Academy.
  164. Gisela Cook – Former Museum Educator and parent.
  165. Jenna Withney – Music Teacher and Youth Worker – Freelance.
  166.  Eileen Taylor – Teacher – Secondary State
  167. Fiona Douglas-Reeeves – Head of Media – Sixth Form College
  168. Alan Mills – Former Teacher, SSAT consultant, now Charity Trustee and Director
  169. Marie Davidson – Head of RE – Secondary State
  170. Sharon Wainscott – Teacher – Primary.
  171. Elizabeth Ramsay – Head of Drama – Sixth Form College
  172. Sue Berry – Teacher and Trade Unionist.
  173. Samantha Kent – Teacher of Science – Secondary
  174. Amy Combey – LSA – Primary
  175. Jane McGregor – Ex teacher, now educational researcher, Cambridge University.
  176. Sophie Alcock – Year 5/6 Teacher – Primary
  177. Mark Johnson – Teacher of Theatre – FE
  178.  Rebecca Denning – Teacher of Dance – Secondary Academy.
  179.   Victoria Hale – Head of Year – Secondary Academy.
  180.  Kelly Wade – Class teacher – Primary.
  181.  Dave Whitaker – Headteacher – Special Education
  182.   Roz Morton – Teacher of English – Secondary
  183. Maria Beswick – Teacher of English – Secondary
  184. Vikki Clements  – Teacher of English _ Secondary
  185. Sophie Wales – Teacher – Secondary
  186. Jo Rhodes – Teacher of Dance – Cultural Sector
  187. Matthew Douglas – Head of Music – Co-operative Trust Secondary
  188. Phillipa Jackson, Headteacher – Primary
  189. Ben Greenfield – Teacher – Primary
  190. Philip Willis – Teacher – Primary
  191. Frances Mills – Educational Psychologist and Mum.
  192. Janine Chapelle – Teacher of English – Sixth Form College
  193. Matthew Hughes – EYFS Teacher – Primary
  194. Alison Welsh – Teacher – Primary
  195. Claire McDonough – Teacher- Secondary.
  196. Clare Vincent – Year 6 teacher – Primary
  197. Sarah Rhodes – Learning Coordinator – Secondary
  198. Alfie Crump – Deputy Headteacher – Primary
  199. Neil Agutter – Senior Teacher – Outdoor Learning Centre
  200. Martin Borrott – Assistant Headteacher – Primary
  201. Shaun Hopper – Maths and Research Leader – Primary Academy
  202. G. Collins – Teacher – Primary
  203. Alex Lockhart – Teacher – Primary
  204. A. Maynard – NQT – Primary
  205. Jen Shannon – Educational Psychologist and former Primary School Teacher.
  206. Valerie Goodwin – Head of Department – Secondary.
  207. Kirsty Mason – GTP English Teacher – Secondary Academy.
  208. Rhoda Wilson – Year Leader – Middle School
  209. Jo Ward – Yr 5 Teacher and Literacy Co-ordinator – Primary
  210. Katy Street – Head of English -Secondary
  211. Melanie Weinstein – Teacher – Primary International
  212. Gill Wallace – Primary Maths Specialist – Primary State
  213. Masha Bell – Former Teacher, now Literacy Researcher
  214. Damien Mills – Deputy Headteacher – Primary
  215. Steve King – Teacher – Secondary
  216. Emma Prince – Head of English – Sixth Form College
  217. Dennis Kwok – NQT Science and former private sector employee – Secondary
  218. Duncan Bradshaw – Assistant Head of Mathematics – Secondary
  219. Helen Absalom – Teacher of English – International
  220. Ray Dominy – Teacher – Primary
  221. Jo Hoult – Teacher and Arts Coordinator – Primary
  222. Theresa Donegan – Deputy Head – Primary International
  223. Zoe Brown – Learning and Progress Assistant – Secondary
  224. Ron Gordon – RE Teacher – Secondary
  225. Simon Webster – Head of History – Secondary
  226. Emma O’Kelly – Teacher – Primary
  227. Ellen McVicar – Teacher – Primary
  228. Kay Johnston – History Teacher – Secondary
  229. Patricia Oxiade – Teacher – Primary
  230. Madeleine Court – Teacher of Economics and Business – Independent School
  231. Helen Brooks – Teacher and parent – Primary
  232. Armin Sebastian Cano Fuica – Teacher – Primary International.
  233. Georgina Holt – Director of Science – Secondary
  234. Nicky Martin – Teacher – Primary
  235. Susan Rowe-Jones, Headteacher – Primary
  236. Dan Heppner – Teacher of Science – Secondary
  237. Karen Grey – Teacher – Primary
  238. John Gillard – Head of History – Secondary Academy
  239. R.Crowford – Teacher, Primary,
  240. Claire Bills, Teacher, Primary.
  241. Paul Willerton – Assistant Vice Principal – Secondary.
  242. Susan Bowie – Maths/ICT teacher – Secondary Academy
  243. Tracy Gresty – Teacher – Primary
  244. Yvonne Hardman – Teacher – Primary
  245. Lorraine Marshall – Teacher – Primary
  246. Patricia Farmer – Assistant Headteacher – Primary
  247. Zoe Friend – Teacher, Primary
  248. L.Trussel – Teacher of ICT – Secondary
  249. Jonathan Gower – Headteacher, Primary.
  250. Jill Morton – Educational Psychologist.
  251. Val Crane – Science Teacher – Secondary
  252. Shona Wolfenden – Teacher – Primary
  253. Claire Adams – Teacher – Primary
  254. Lestyn Thomas – HLTA – Primary
  255. Andrew Elliot – Head of Geography -Secondary
  256. Jackie Lucraft – Director of Teaching and Learning, Secondary.
  257. Peter Hall – Maths Consultant – Making Maths Fun, Primary
  258. Amanda Morris,  Teacher of DT, Secondary
  259. Lizzie Pascall – Teacher, Primary.
  260. Dave Mingay – Teacher, Primary Special Education
  261. Tavia Allan -Course Leader for English -16-19 School
  262. Carson Elday – Teacher, Primary Special Education
  263. Pamela Rook – Teacher, Primary
  264. Mick Cull, Teacher, Primary
  265. Andrea Jenkins, Teacher, Primary
  266. Tim Handley – Maths/ICT Co-ordinator, Primary
  267. Vanessa Cox, Head of Department, Secondary
  268. Andy Cavadino – Year 5 Teacher – Primary
  269. Helen Weeden – Teacher, Primary
  270. Ruth Ball, Trainee Teacher, Primary
  271. Andrew Lindley – Teacher, Primary
  272. Keith Smith, Head of DT/Engineering, Secondary
  273. Alasdair Smith,  Teacher of History and Senior Lecturer, Secondary and HE
  274. Andrew John, Teacher, Primary.
  275. Jayne Wright, Teacher of History – Secondary
  276. Gorana Henry – Teacher, Primary
  277. Moyra Mahoney, Teacher of English, FE
  278. Sue Mosedale, TA, Primary/EYFS
  279. Louise Bishop, Teacher, Primary
  280. Donna Sparke, Teacher, Primary
  281. Paul Norman, Vice Principal, Secondary Academy
  282. Jane Lovis, Assistant Headteacher, Pupil Referral Unit
  283. Hannah Boydon, Teacher, Primary
  284. Robert Illingworth, Middle School Leader, MFL
  285. Lucy Newman, SEN Teacher, Primary
  286. Chris Chivers, ITT Tutor, Primary, HE
  287. Adam Hayes – Reintegration Coordinator, Education Support Centre
  288. Richard Warren, English Deputy Leader, Secondary Academy.
  289. Philip Anderson, Head of Department, Secondary, Chair of Governors, Primary
  290. Abbie Talbot – Trainee Teacher, Primary.
  291. Eoghan Walsh – Teacher, Primary.
  292. Mark Pratt – Headteacher, Primary.
  293. Alison Smith, KS5 Co-ordinator, Secondary.
  294. Helena Butterworth, Head of MFL, Voluntary Aided Secondary
  295. Adam Pannell – Teacher, Primary.
  296. Tim Rogers – Teacher of Science, Secondary.
  297. Hannah Lloyd, Year 6 teacher, Primary
  298. Charles Tub, Head of Department, Secondary
  299. Vicky Grant, Teacher, Primary
  300. Maria Teresa Jackson, Teacher, Primary
  301. Liz Gallagher-Coates,  English and Psychology teacher, Independent sector.
  302. Morag Scott-Smith – Teacher, Primary.
  303. Emma Payne – Headteacher, Primary
  304. Gary Snapper, Editor, Teaching English, The National Association for Teachers of English
  305. Helen Wright, Trainee Teacher, Primary
  306. Lesley Davis, Headteacher, Primary
  307. Julia Skinner, Retired Headteacher.
  308. Gary Read – Headteacher, Primary.
  309. Katarzyna Klocek, Teacher, Primary.
  310. Tim Browse – Headteacher, Primary
  311. Lisa Roberts, Teacher, Primary
  312. Mags Herbert – Year 6 Teacher, Primary
  313. Sheeylah Price, HLTA and Librarian, Primary
  314. Ruth Jones, Teacher, Primary
  315. Lauren Brown, Teacher, Primary
  316. Debbie Taylor, English Teacher, Secondary
  317. Catherine Barlow Year 3 teacher, Primary
  318. Louise Goode, Head of Mathematics, Secondary
  319. Rob Lloyd, Lead Learning Coordinator and School Governor
  320. Emma Wylde, Teacher of English
  321. Catherine Upton, Literacy Co-ordinator, Primary
  322. Barbara Butterworth, Deputy Headteacher.
  323. Kevin Holland – Bigfoot Theatre Company
  324. Emma Bramley – Creative Practitioner
  325. Matt Wardle, Teacher, Primary
  326. Carol Newton, Teacher, Primary
  327. John Rainer, Academic Division Leader, PGCE Tutor, HE
  328. Joy Sherlock, Teacher of Drama, Secondary
  329. Helen Jones, Headteacher, Primary Academy
  330. Andrew Parsons, Teacher, Secondary
  331. Jennifer Benzer, Teacher, Sixth Form College
  332. Gill Evans, Deputy Headteacher, Primary
  333. Elaine Nielsen, Teacher of Drama, International Primary School
  334. Emily Thurbon, Assistant Headteacher, Primary
  335. Dr. James Turner, Literacy Co-ordinator, Primary
  336. Dr. Joana Soliva Teacher of English, GCSE and A Level Examiner.
  337. Fiona Webster Lee – Teacher of RE and Spanish – Special Education
  338. Lucie Golton – Head of Physics -Secondary.
  339. Niamh Sweeney, Teacher of Health and Social Care, 6th Form Federated Academy.
  340. Alison Cooper – Teacher, Primary
  341. Corinne Howell – Science Co-ordinator, Special Education
  342. Pierette Sims – Head of English – 11-18 Academy
  343. Sharon McCammon, AST English, Secondary
  344. Ian Browne, Science Faculty Leader, Secondary
  345. Jenny Lewis, Teacher, Primary
  346. Suzanne Higgins – Deputy Headteacher
  347. Anne Broadhurst – Geography and CCT Teacher, 3-18 Academy
  348. Phil Wood – Lecturer, HE
  349. Elizabeth Dowling – Teacher of History, Secondary.
  350. Lauren McCoy, Teacher of English, Secondary
  351. Andy Lutwyche, Teacher of Mathematics, Secondary
  352. Tim Appelbee, Primary School Governor, FHEA, CAPE UK associate
  353. Kathryn Law AST Creativity and Learning, Wakefield LEA
  354. Ian Sudbery, Assistant Headteacher, Secondary
  355. Lisa Constable, EYPS Trainer and Advisor for Early Years Education
  356. Rachael Taylor, Teacher, Primary
  357. Andy Bowman, Deputy Headteacher, Primary
  358. Philip Cole – Teacher of Science, Secondary
  359. Neil Wells, Teacher of Science, Secondary Academy
  360. Janet King, Teacher, Primary
  361. Jessica Bubb, Teacher, EYFS
  362. Paul Hacker, Teacher, Independent Sector
  363. Johanna Walkley, Headteacher, Primary
  364. Samantha Salas, EAL teacher, Primary
  365. Fiona Miller, SENCO, Assistant Headteacher.
  366. Lisa Pitman, Teacher, Secondary
  367. Seren Collins, Teacher, Secondary
  368. Rachel Emmett, Literacy Lecturer, FE
  369. Helen Trivers, Teacher, Primary
  370. Sarah Klein, Art Teacher, Secondary
  371. Elizabeth Mynott, AST, Secondary
  372. Fatima Duerden, MFL, Primary
  373. Greg King, Head of Physics, Secondary Academy
  374. Pauline Gaston, AST Behaviour and Maths, 4-16 Academy
  375. Martin Galway – Year 6 Lead Teacher and Senior Manager, Primary
  376. Professor David Davis – HE and International Teacher Education.
  377. Suzy Wedley, Teacher, Primary
  378. Helen Thornton, TA, Primary
  379. Claire Johnson, Teacher, Primary
  380. Alex Scott, Teacher, Primary
  381. Ben King, Geography and Learning to Learn, Secondary Academy
  382. Eliza O’Driscoll, English Teacher, Secondary
  383. Mark Guy, Science/Physics, Secondary
  384. Dr. Roger Caseby, Vice Principal, Academy
  385. Paul Bateson, Teacher of Drama, Secondary
  386. Heidi Hudd, Phase Leader, Primary
  387. Debbie Hough, English, Secondary
  388. John Atkinson, Learning Leader, Secondary
  389. Murray Sackwild – Head of Humanities, Secondary
  390. Damien Keene, Assistant Head for Inclusion, Primary
  391. Donna Beadows – Teacher, Primary
  392. Damian Knollys – Headteacher, Primary
  393. Guy Williams – Director of Performing Arts and Editor of the NATD journal.
  394. Sara Radley – Deputy Headteacher, Primary
  395. Freya Knowles, Lead Teacher for the more able, Teacher of English, Secondary
  396. Mark Wheeller -Drama Teacher and Playwright – writer of Too Much Punch For Judy and other plays.
  397. Jane Ashworth, Teacher, Primary
  398. Simon Horbury, Head of Science Independent Preparatory School
  399. Janet Colledge, WRL Manager, London Academy
  400. Chris Miles, Head of Music , Secondary
  401. Larry Scott, English, Secondary
  402. Ross Cotter, HE
  403. Molly Bertrand, Teacher of Drama, Secondary
  404. Gill Goodswen, Retired Headteacher, Chair of Governors.
  405. Sarah Hambley, Teacher, Primary
  406. Richard Clift, Head of Science, Secondary
  407. Tracey Halford, Teacher, Primary
  408. Ian McDaid Specialist Leader of Education, Secondary
  409. Bridget Solly – Teacher, Primary
  410. Grace Meisher, Teacher, Primary
  411. Camilla Clayton, Teacher, Primary
  412. Rachel Morgan, Teacher, Primary
  413. Kimberley Dutton Hughes, Teacher, Primary
  414. Gary Vessey, Assistant Headteacher, AST English, Primary
  415. Emma Duff, Primary SENCO
  416. Julia Morgans, Every Child Counts Teacher Leader, Derbyshire
  417. Elisabeth Street, Teacher, Primary
  418. Cath Heery, Teacher, Primary
  419. Matthew O Hagan,  Maths Teacher, Primary
  420. Andy Bear, Teacher, Primary
  421. Glyn Bishop, Teacher, Primary
  422. Alison Richardson, Head of Music, Secondary
  423. Jon Haines, Former Head of Dept, ITT Tutor
  424. Stewart Debenham, Deputy Head, Primary
  425. Theresa Lane, Headteacher, Nursery
  426. Gillian Kirk, English,  Secondary
  427. Christine Clarke, Head of Maths, Secondary
  428. John Mountford, Retired Headteacher, Ex Ofsted Inspector and serving Governor.
  429. Nadine Parker, Teacher of Art, Secondary Academy
  430. Louise Cranshaw, Teacher, Primary
  431. Alison Hale, Drama in Education – Schools and Museums.
  432. Mike Barber, Curriculum Manager, Sixth Form College
  433. Nicola Darling, Teacher, Primary
  434. Helen Mayes, Teacher of English, Secondary
  435. Louise Harris, Deputy Headteacher, Secondary Academy
  436. Martin Francis, retired Headteacher, School Governor.
  437. Michael Bunting – Deputy Head, Primary
  438. Matt Wiley, Teacher of Science, Secondary
  439. Heather Cunningham, Headteacher
  440. Mick O’Neill Deputy SENCO, Secondary
  441. Paul de Haas, Teacher, Primary
  442. Julie Lilly, Headteacher and SENCO, Primary
  443. John Kisiala, Teacher, Primary
  444. Stewart Payne, Teacher, Primary
  445. Lynda Froud, KS1 Teacher, Primary
  446. John Parker, Maths Specialist, Primary
  447. Rachel Bonner, NQT, Primary
  448. Katie Moran, Headteacher, Primary
  449. Marion Langford – SENCO, Primary
  450. Andy Molloy Science Curriculum Team Leader, Secondary
  451. Nicola Denney, Teacher, Primary
  452. Jan Marshall, SENCO, Primary
  453. Sarah Leigh Barnett, Humanities, Secondary Academy
  454. Lucy Alway, Teacher, Primary
  455. Sam Johnson, Head of Learning, Secondary
  456. Gareth Metcalfe, Teacher, Primary
  457. Jack Wyatt, Teacher, Primary
  458. Roo Stenning, Geography and Theory of Knowledge Teacher, International
  459. Sharon Patterson, TA, Secondary
  460. Alison Rowe, RE Secondary
  461. Martin Coombes, Teacher of Physics, Secondary
  462. Neil Scanlan, former LA advisor on Assessment, School Governor and Governor Trainer
  463. Michaela Porter, TA, Primary
  464. Miriam Mendez Lovelace, Teacher, Primary
  465. Jenny Elliott, Deputy Headteacher, Secondary
  466. Thomasina Watts-Robinson, Head of Science, Secondary
  467. Sue Gentry, TA, Primary
  468. Heather Harrison, Music Teacher, Secondary.
  469. Carolyn Frea, Literacy Support Teacher
  470. David Lloyd, Teacher of Music and Drama, Special Education
  471. Robin Bertrand – Deputy Headteacher, Secondary
  472. Ilona Schofield, Teacher of Science, Secondary
  473. Lucy Evans, Literacy Co-ordinator, Primary
  474. Dr. Owen Barden, Lecturer in Education, HE
  475. Frederique Lane, Assistant Principal, Secondary
  476. Deb Smith, Teacher, Secondary
  477. Robert Campbell, Principal, Secondary Academy
  478. Joanne Pearson, Teacher Educator
  479. Michael Horner, Teacher of English, Secondary
  480. Hazel Danson, Assistant Headteacher, Primary
  481. Louise Simmonds, Base Leader, Isles of Scilly
  482. Jo Cole, Learning and Teaching, Secondary
  483. Julie Lee Ranson, Teacher, Senior Manager, Governor
  484. Helen Hall Chair of Governors, Primary
  485. Andrew Caffrey, Assistant Headteacher
  486. Matt Beresford, Deputy Headteacher, Primary Academy
  487. Ruth Golding, Head of School
  488. Leon Reed, Teaching Assistant, Primary
  489. Michael Griffin, Head of Year 13, Teacher of Psychology and Author
  490. Katharine Elwis, Teacher of Drama, Primary, Cambridge Graduate
  491. Kim Payne, Assistant Headteacher, Primary.
  492. James Rich, Teacher, Primary
  493. David Beddow, AST Secondary
  494. Helen Mitchell, Director of CPD, School of Education
  495. Jessica Cotton, Head of Creative and Performing Arts, Secondary
  496. Stephen Shieber, Head of RE and Philosphy, Independent Sector
  497. Chris Ewing, Head of PE, Secondary
  498. Daniel Reeves, Teacher, Primary
  499. Elaine Perrigot, Teacher
  500. Ellis Holt, Teacher, Primary
  501. Amanda Gray, Year 6 Teacher, Primary
  502. Emily Pulleine, Teacher, Primary.
  503. Charlotte Hills, Year 6 teacher, Primary
  504. Simon Sylvester, Lecturer in Film and Production, FE
  505. Vivienne Sheil, Teacher, Primary
  506. Ben Walsh, Textbook Author and Examiner
  507. Mark Squires, Headteacher and Local Leader of Education
  508. Ciaran O’Hallaran, Head of Arts Faculty, 4-18 Academy
  509. Emma Harvey, Teacher, Primary
  510. Rebecca Bradley, KS3 Co-ordinator, Secondary
  511. Heidi Lauder, Teacher, Primary
  512. Dai Barnes Head of Academic and In-Curriculum ICT, Independent Sector
  513. Anne O’Connor, EYFS consultant, trainer and writer
  514. Sara Whiley, SEN teacher
  515. Nicky Downes, Inclusion Teacher, Primary
  516. Marcelle Hoare Teacher, Primary
  517. Sue Thom, Teacher, Primary
  518. Andrea Mooney KS2 Teacher Primary
  519. Nicola Gabb, English Teacher, Independent Sector
  520. Gill Davies – PGCE Tutor
  521. David Rees – English Teacher, Secondary
  522. Liz Coales, Maths Teacher, Secondary Academy
  523. Rachael Hughes, Teacher, Primary
  524. Jane Porteous Teacher, Primary
  525. Sue Ellis, Teacher, Special School for Children with Autism
  526. Paul Bridge, History and Careers Teacher, International School
  527. James Hobson, Head of Department, Science, Secondary
  528. Gary Ellison, Teacher, Primary
  529. Fiona Kidney, TA SEN Secondary
  530. Dan Price, Teacher, Primary
  531. Dan Allen, Head of Music, Secondary
  532. Caroline Buchanan, Deputy Head, Infant School
  533. Jane Bettles, Year 4 Teacher, Primary
  534. Neil Kilbourne, Primary PGCE Student
  535. Angharad Jones, Mantle of the Expert Practitioner
  536. Caroline Gibby, Ed Doc Student, Newcastle University
  537. Ron Jenkins, Retired Science Teacher, Secondary
  538. Juliet Cook, Teacher of English
  539. Catherine Arcari, Teacher, Primary
  540. Kimberley Smith, EYFS Leader, Reception Teacher
  541. Jason Tracey Secondary Science Teacher
  542. Angie King Inclusions, Leader, Primary
  543. Vicki Merrick, Head of Department, Secondary and Grandmother
  544. Wendi Roberts Year Team Leader, Primary
  545. Lisa Clarke Teacher, Secondary
  546. Lisa Ashby, Year Leader, Primary
  547. Deborah Key, Teacher, LA Behaviour Support Service and LA Co-ordinator for Elective Home Education
  548. Becky Barros Teacher, Primary
  549. Claire Doherty Teacher of RE, Secondary
  550. Victoria Rogers, Teacher, Primary
  551. Kathryn McGuiness Teacher, Primary
  552. Lisa McLaughlin Teacher, Primary
  553. Alasdair Mussell TA Primary
  554. Anton East, Course Leader, Music and Perf. Arts, Sixth Form College
  555. Amanda Sanders PGCE Student
  556. Ingrid Spencer Education Lecturer, Teach First Primary Lead
  557. Steph Ladbrooke Teacher, Primary
  558. Janette Smith EYFS Adviser
  559. Ruth Woolman Teacher, Middle School
  560. Nicky Simmons Primary Education Consultant
  561. Louise M Bomber, Teacher and Therapist
  562. Jakki Bryant Teacher and Governor, Primary
  563. Kristiane Worsdell, English Teacher, Secondary
  564. Lucie Waggeh, Teacher, Primary
  565. Kay Kearey, History, Secondary Academy
  566. Chris Pim, Independent ICT and EAL Adviser.
  567. Heather Savage, KS2 Leader, Primary
  568. Ann Horton, EAL Co-ordinator, Academy
  569. Tricia Gilbey Teacher, Primary
  570. Ian Morecroft, Technology Teacher, Secondary
  571. Peter Matthews, Education Consultant
  572. Laura Mitchell, ICT teacher, Secondary. Parent.
  573. Emma Miles, Teacher, Primary
  574. Tony Buttifint, Maths Teacher and Data Manager, Secondary
  575. Dan Lyndon, AST History, Secondary
  576. Marie Bonsall, Teacher of English, Secondary
  577. Chloe Tollafield, Teacher, Primary
  578. Patricia Grist, Teacher and former Adviser for the International Education Agency of Papua New Guinea
  579. Vicki Stephens, Teacher, Primary
  580. Nicki Hamilton, Phase Leader, Primary
  581. Laura Stratford, TA, Primary. Parent.
  582. Hannah Quinn, Deputy Headteacher, Primary
  583. Fred Greaves, Division Secretary, Surrey NUT.
  584. Sean Moore, Teacher, Secondary
  585. Sian Jones, Teacher, Primary
  586. Dawn Hindle, English Secondary Academy
  587. Julia Walshaw AST Primary
  588. Alan Darley MA Teacher of RE and Philosophy, Secondary
  589. Christopher Clarke, Head of English, Secondary
  590. Hilary Cremlin, Teacher, Primary
  591. Chrissie Attenborough, English Teacher, Secondary
  592. Lucy Haynes, Teacher, Primary
  593. Lee Probert, Religious Studies Teacher, Primary
  594. Rebecca Morris, PGCE Student
  595. Debbie Ferrer Head of Key Stage 3, English, Secondary
  596. Chris Denson, Teacher, Secondary
  597. Wayne Jenkins Deputy Headteacher, Secondary
  598. Ian Goodyer Teacher, Primary
  599. Kathryn Bennett, Head of English, Secondary
  600. Rebecca Stone, Teacher, Primary
  601. Stephen Friend, Deputy Headteacher, Primary
  602. Christina Skarbek Senior Lecturer in Education
  603. David Mitchell, Music Teacher, Secondary
  604. Sarah Mann Director of Performing Arts, Secondary
  605. Anna Daly, Creative Practitioner and EYFS Trainer.
  606. Esther McKnight English Lecturer, FE
  607. Dr. Chris Denny, Associate Tutor, SEN Adviser, HE
  608. Rebecca Bowden English Secondary
  609. Sarah Coles, Trainee Primary Teacher
  610. Ben Ramsland, Head of English, Secondary
  611. Geraldine Ciantar Headteacher, Primary
  612. Jacinta Mills, Head of English, Public Sector
  613. Stacey Mearley AST History, Secondary
  614. James Wilson Teacher, Primary
  615. Emily Tudor, Head of English, Secondary
  616. Katharine Dunstan, Teacher, Primary
  617. Joanna Dennis, Teacher of English, Secondary
  618. Maria Ioannou Nursery Teacher
  619. Ian Howarth Head of History, Secondary
  620. Chris Brookbank, Headteacher, Primary
  621. Joan Walton, Lecturer Higher Education
  622. Amy Rollason Teacher, Secondary
  623. Sarah Matthews Teacher
  624. Jason Arthur, Teacher, Secondary
  625. Janet Newman, Retired Headteacher,Primary
  626. Suzie James, Teacher, Primary
  627. Lisa Dalgarno-Connelly – Teacher of Psychology, FE
  628. Jacqui Cawdron English Teacher , Secondary Free School
  629. Su Walters, Teacher, Primary
  630. Alaric Thompson Head of Physics, Secondary
  631. Martin Field, Teacher Secondary Academy, Chair of Governors, Primary
  632. Ashleigh Bell, Teacher of English, Secondary
  633. Peter Maynard, Head of Humanties, Grammar School
  634. Belinda J Ourtilbous Headteacher, Infant School
  635. Huw Morgan, Headteacher Primary
  636. Rosalyn George, Professor of Education, Goldsmiths
  637. Emily Tudor, Head of English, Secondary
  638. Phillip Klaus, Houseparent Psychology Teacher, Summerhill School.
  639. Nina Cardinale, Teacher Secondary
  640. Julian Bishop Ex Science teacher, IT Tutor IT Appreticeships, Private and Public Sector
  641. Neil Barton, BSED Mentor, Secondary
  642. Samantha Finch, Teacher, Primary
  643. Kelly Banbury, Subject Leader, Secondary
  644. Clare Perriss Peripatetic Teacher
  645. Nan Fee, Teacher, Primary
  646. Sorrell Thomas, Drama Teacher, Secondary
  647. Theresa Thornton, Learning and Teaching Co-ordinator
  648. Mark Parslow Williams EYFS Teacher
  649. Marion Green Teacher, Primary
  650. Carly Wilson, Deputy Headteacher, Primary
  651. Jo Hampshire, Head of Learning Support, Secondary
  652. Nikki Jones, TA, Primary. Parent.
  653. Olivia Whatcott, EYFS and Primary Teacher
  654. Ian Dickerson, KS5 Mathematics Co-ordinator, Sixth Form Secondary
  655. Michelle Hepburn, English Teacher, Secondary
  656. Owain Jones, Teacher, Primary
  657. Toby Baeyens, Head of ICT Summerhill School.
  658. Russell Cummings, Teacher of English, Secondary
  659. Deborah Niven, Teacher of English, Secondary RC
  660. Joanna Ferguson, Learning Mentor, Sixth Form Secondary
  661. Maggie Pitfield, Senior Lecturer in Education, HE
  662. Vicky Obied, Senior Lecturer in Education, HE
  663. Kim Wheeler, Trainee Teacher, Primary and EYFS
  664. Peter Williams, Curriculum Manager. FE
  665. James Cadieux TA SEN, Primary
  666. Glynn Kirkham, Educational Consultant, Former Teacher, Ofsted Inspector and University Lecturer.
  667. Elizabeth Lockwood, Science Teacher, Secondary Academy
  668. Stanley K.M. Semarco, Lecturer, HE
  669. Caroline Small, Drama and English Teacher, Artist in Education
  670. Rebecca Sutherland Cooper, SEN Teacher
  671. Amy Druce, Deputy Head of English, Secondary
  672. Helen Hunter, Teacher and Creative Practitioner, Independent Preparatory School
  673. Trish Wilson, TA Primary
  674. Chris Coultas Teacher, Primary
  675. Sarah Prentice, Teacher, Primary
  676. Jane Couzens, Teacher, Primary
  677. Dr. Alison Taysum, Lecturer, HE
  678. Tim Ennion, Assistant Headteacher, Secondary Academy
  679. Daisy Camplin, Teacher, Primary
  680. Sue Smith, Teacher, Primary
  681. Rowan Todd, Lecturer Design Technology, HE
  682. Alexia Hodgson, Learning Support, Primary
  683. Esther O’Neill, Music and German Teacher, Secondary
  684. Lynda Houghton, Senior Lecturer in Primary ITT, HE
  685. Indira Banner, Lecturer in Science Education, HE
  686. Neil Davis, Assistant Headteacher, Primary
  687. Emily Thomas, History Teacher, Secondary
  688. Kate Oakley, Senior EYFS Practitioner
  689. Janelle Sims, Deputy Headteacher, Primary
  690. Dr. Kate McKenzie, Educationalist and School Governor.
  691. Alice South, Literacy Co-ordinator, Infant School
  692. Denise Crunden, Teacher, Primary
  693. Tricia Eastley, Headteacher and NLE
  694. Gail Barr – Language Teacher, Secondary and HE
  695. Jane Todd Teacher, Primary
  696. Mark Helliwell, Senior Lecturer, Design and Technology, HE
  697. Jacqueline Perkins, Senior Leader and Lead Teacher for Maths/ICT, Primary
  698. Professor Harry Torrance Director of the Educational Research Unit, MMU
  699. Julian Davies, Art Teacher (retired)
  700. Celine Lawrence, Literacy ESOL Teacher, FE
  701. Rafael Mitchell, Science Education Lecturer, HE
  702. Chris Bailey, Assistant Headteacher, Primary
  703. David Sassoon, Schools Support Services and former Ofsted Inspector
  704. Michelle Dunne, Teacher, Academy
  705. Brendan Higgins, Schools of Education, Leeds University
  706. Nicola Goodwill, Teacher of English, Secondary
  707. Tim Smith, Deputy Headteacher, Independent Preparatory School
  708. Emily Tudor Head of English, Secondary
  709. Alison Munro AST and Training Co-ordinator, Academy
  710. John Wadsworth, Senior Lecturer, Early Child Education, Goldsmiths
  711. Claudia Fabian, MFL Teacher, Head of Year and ITT Lead Mentor
  712. Scott Lyons, Year 6 teacher and Assistant Secretary of the NUT, Norfolk
  713. Jackie Sandy, Teacher, Primary
  714. Juliette Fry, Drama Practitioner
  715. Su Corcoran Physics and Theory of Knowledge Teacher IB
  716. Carl Humphreys, Head of ICT Secondary
  717. Simon Ross Head of World Studies, Secondary
  718. Michael Guy, Teacher, Primary
  719. Madeleine Cutler, Foundation Stage Leader, Maths Co-ordinator
  720. Natalie Squires, Secondary Academy
  721. Grace Blaxall, Teacher of English, Secondary Academy
  722. Tapiwa Katsande, Teacher and Researcher, Vocational Education
  723. Dr. Janet Harvey, Teacher, Educational Consultant and HE Lecturer
  724. Paul Atkin, Reading Recovery Teacher, Primary
  725. Sean Green, Teacher, Academy
  726. Kevin Osborne, Music and Maths Teacher, Deputy Head, Secondary
  727. Kathrine Nutting, Acting Headteacher, EYFS Specialist
  728. Abigail Gosling, Senior Lecturer, Early Years FE
  729. Julia Coyne, Supervising Tutor, FE Primary
  730. Lisa Drage KS1 Co-ordinator Primary
  731. Helen Heery – Teacher, Primary
  732. Alison Leveridge, Teacher, Primary
  733. Dr. Trevor Male, Senior Lecturer in Education, Hull University
  734. Kirsty Lilley, Head of Faculty, Secondary Education
  735. Paula Bryant, Teacher, Primary
  736. Jessica Austin-Burdett, Art Team Leader
  737. Elizabeth Liddard, Primary Teacher
  738. Justine Mercer, Associate Professor, University of Warwick
  739. Paul Baker, Teacher of English, Secondary Boys
  740. Paul Miller, Teacher, Secondary and HE
  741. Sue Clamp Teacher, Primary
  742. Dr. Naomi McLeod, Senior Lecturer, Higher Education
  743. Karen Searle EYFS Advisory Teacher
  744. Sophie Oliver, Teacher, Primary
  745. Vic Whittaker, Teacher Education Lecturer, Sheffield Hallam
  746. Cathie Pearce, EYFS Specialist Teacher and Educational Researcher
  747. Laura Denton, Subject Leader for Science, Secondary
  748. Mick Savill, Film and Media Teacher, Academy
  749. Kendra Cogman, Primary Teacher and NUT representative
  750. Ian Benson. Lead Teacher, KS3 Maths, Secondary
  751. Julia Scoones, Teacher, Primary
  752. Sue Holliday, Teacher Educator, Principal Lecturer, HE
  753. Jigsa Naik, Teacher, Primary
  754. Dene Zarins, AST Primary Drama and Mantle of the Expert Consultant
  755. Vanessa Matthews, Assistant Headteacher, Primary.
  756. Tricia Young, Teacher, Primary and Teacher Trainer
  757. Ursula Edgington, FE Lecturer, PhD Student
  758. Jo Tomalin, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics, Sheffield.
  759. Bev Templeton, Teacher, Primary
  760. Lisa Wilkinson, Teacher, Primary
  761. Katie Cox, Teacher, Primary
  762. Sheila Greedy, Supply Teacher
  763. Haldun Sonkaynar, Maths, Secondary
  764. Sheila Sharpe, Lecturer, Primary, EYFS, ITT and HE
  765. Alison Crosbie, Primary Teacher, Singapore
  766. David Hills Taylor, Design Technology Teacher, Secondary
  767. Penny Brown, Teacher, Primary
  768. Shane Doyle, English Secondary
  769. Sarah Haddy, EYFS Teacher
  770. Kieran McDonald, Senior Lecturer, Design Tech Education
  771. Steve McNally, Teacher, Primary
  772. Jackie Sandy, Teacher, Primary
  773. Len Holman, Headteacher, State Primary
  774. Andrew Stone, History and Politics Tutor, Sixth Form College
  775. Clare Sarson, Teacher, Secondary
  776. Di Wuest, Teacher, Primary
  777. James Barry, Teacher, Secondary
  778. Jessica House, Teacher, Primary
  779. Dr. Joan Walton, Director, Centre for the Child, Family and Society, Liverpool Hope
  780. Jennifer Payne, Head of History, Secondary
  781. Doug Dickinson, Associate Lecturer, HE
  782. Dawn Pattinson, Maths Teacher, Independent Sector
  783. Claudia Ashton, Teacher, Primary
  784. Jayne Spurries, Head of ICT and Business, Secondary
  785. Rachel Mills, Subject Leader, English
  786. Sacha Hateley-Lowe, Teacher, Secondary
  787. Sally Hinchliffe, Senior Lecturer, Teacher Education, HE
  788. Juli Morgan Russell, Head of English, Secondary
  789. Helen Drake, Year 3 Primary/KS1/EYFS leader and SENCO, Primary
  790. John Griffiths, EYFS Phase Leader and Teacher, Primary
  791. Kelly McLoughlin, Teacher, Primary
  792. Frances Egan Assistant Headteacher, Nursery
  793. Lonarna Mathias EYFS Consultant and former Ofsted Inspector
  794. Daniel Major, Head of Humanities, Secondary
  795. Vernonica Halliwell, Teacher, Primary
  796. Anita Braithwaite, Science, Secondary
  797. Emma Patman, Teacher, Primary and MaST
  798. Nick McLeod, Head of RE and Head of Year, Secondary
  799. Paul Bryant, E-Learning Consultant
  800. Christine Hudson, Former Drama Teacher, Secondary
  801. Barbara Hendon, Infant GT Leader
  802. Carolyn Hanwell, Children’s Centre Teacher
  803. Emma Wilson, Head of Music, Secondary
  804. Mark Chambers, Chief Executive Officer, Formerly LA Adviser and Headteacher
  805. Anne-Marie Greenland, RE teacher, Secondary
  806. Catherine Bell, Primary Supply Teacher
  807. Hilary Tunnicliffe, AST Secondary
  808. Jeremy Taylor, Head of History and Politics, Secondary
  809. Ken Muller, History and Politics Teacher, Sixth Form College
  810. Vicki Winning, Drama Teacher, Secondary
  811. Annabelle Scott, MFL, Primary and Secondary
  812. Claire Briggs Assistant Headteacher, Secondary
  813. Anthony Dovan, History, Secondary
  814. Jan Rowe, Senior Lecturer in ITE
  815. Pete Hurst, Deputy Headteacher, Secondary
  816. Helen Gill, Teacher, Primary
  817. Andy Jones, Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Education, MMU
  818. Nancy Gedge, Teacher, Primary
  819. Iona Burchell, Parent.
  820. Julia McIlroy, Teacher of English, Head of Year, Secondary
  821. Andrew Cowley, Teacher, Primary
  822. Alice Henderson, English Teacher, Secondary Academy
  823. Janet Hewett, Retired Teacher
  824. Hazel Howat, Numbers Count Teacher, Primary
  825. Jim Duke Teacher
  826. Tim Brown, Second in Maths, Academy
  827. Bridget Cousins, Freelance Music Teacher
  828. Penny Hay, Head of Year, Secondary
  829. Helen Loten, SENCO, Primary
  830. Christine Ng, Teacher, Primary
  831. Dolores McNeill, ESL Teacher FE
  832. Roxie Scott, PCGE Primary Student
  833. K. Jeavons, Year Six Science Subject Leader, Primary
  834. Jamie Abbott, Faculty Leader, Social Sciences, Secondary
  835. Tony Dowling, Peripatetic Behaviour Support Teacher, Primary
  836. Barry Ackerman, Teacher, Secondary
  837. Sarah Winner, Head of Dance Secondary
  838. Simon Davies Senior Lecturer in Professional Studies at Birmingham City University.
  839. Tracey Lawrence, Early Years Teacher
  840. Jane Anderson Brown, Peripatetic Music Teacher, Former Music Adviser and Ofsted Inspector
  841. Natasha Young Teacher, Primary
  842. Gemma Rolfe, KS4 Creative Arts Teacher Secondary
  843. Tricia Carroll, Senior Lecturer, EYFS, Primary
  844. Amanda Daish, Teacher, Primary
  845. Roger Kingsnorth Head of Sixth Form College
  846. Toni Morphew, Teacher, Primary
  847. David Moore, Educational Consultant
  848. Christopher Goymer, Teacher, Primary
  849. Louise Preston Teacher of Science, Secondary
  850. Stephen Readey AST Mathematics, Secondary Academy
  851. Christine Dempster, Teacher, Secondary
  852. Jean Clark, Teacher, Primary
  853. Miriam Ghanam, Trainee Teacher, Primary
  854. Sarah Veltch, SEN Teacher
  855. Alex Kenny Secondary School Teacher
  856. Dave Grimmett, Geography Teacher, Secondary
  857. Anita Turner, History, Secondary
  858. Carolyn Wreghitt, Teacher, Maths Adviser, Primary
  859. Lizzie Brown Academic Coach, Secondary
  860. Sir Paul Grant, Headteacher Robert Clack School
  861. Phil Taylor, Former Teacher and Senior Leader, Current School Governor
  862. Brian Slack, Teacher, Primary
  863. Sarah Barton, Teacher of Art and Design
  864. Ben Preston, Teacher of Science, Secondary
  865. Rachel Harrod, Leading Maths Teacher, Year 6 Primary
  866. Sharron Goodwin, Teacher, Primary
  867. Deborah Courtney, Early Years Under Graduate and TA in a Primary
  868. Steve Squires, Business Studies, Academy
  869. Mahmoona Shah, Lecturer, FE College
  870. Jason Collins Year 4 Primary
  871. Sheila McGregor Head of MFL, Secondary
  872. Helen Wiles, Music, NUT Representative, Primary
  873. Keith Baxter, Teacher, Primary
  874. Jo Scott, AST Drama, Year 6 Teacher, Primary
  875. Chris Myhill, Curriculum Leader, ICT, Secondary
  876. Judy Hatton, English and Communications Teacher, Sixth Form College
  877. Avani Higgins, Teacher
  878. Andrew McPhee, Student Teacher
  879. Sue Pilkington, Assistant Headteacher, Primary
  880. Dave Moore, Education Consultant
  881. Andrew Malcolm, Head of Economics and Business Studies, Secondary
  882. Brigeen Nevin, Teacher Secondary
  883. Anne Nelson, Retired Language Support Teacher
  884. Maureen Barton, Geography State Secondary
  885. Malcolm Groves, Governor, State Secondary, Former Ofsted Inspector
  886. Brian Barton, retired Secondary Teacher and Senior Lecturer
  887. Tara Spicer, Teacher, Infant School
  888. Therese O’Sullivan, Educational Consultant
  889. Ray Liddard, Teacher, Primary
  890. Diane Risley, Headteacher, Primary
  891. Breda Bowler, Headteacher, Primary
  892. Vicky Iglesias Teacher, Primary
  893. Jane Bowman, Deputy Headteacher, Primary
  894. Sarah Robins, Headteacher and SENCO, Primary
  895. Caron Jayne Short, Teacher, Primary
  896. Elvett Charles Phipps, Teacher, Secondary
  897. Toby Barkworth-Knight Vice Principal, British Overseas Primary School
  898. Jemma Gregory, Sixth Form Teacher
  899. Jayne Gibbons, Headteacher, Nottingham
  900. Rachel Peckover, Maths Co-ordinator, Primary
  901. Elizabeth Chubbock, Teacher, Primary
  902. Caroline Lamb Deputy Headteacher, SENCO and Year 5/6 Teacher, Primary
  903. Helen Smith, Teacher, and Literacy Co-ordinator, Primary
  904. Jayne Gibbons, Headteacher, Primary
  905. Sandra Gould, Teacher, EYFS
  906. Paul Hughes, Head of Music, Secondary
  907. John Perrem, Teacher, Primary
  908. Julie Chatterton, GCSE Examiner and mother of 4
  909. Amanda Smith, Head of Sixth Form, Grammar School
  910. Janet Wilde, Headteacher, Primary and School Counsellor
  911. Hanna Bithell, English Teacher, Secondary Academy
  912. Karen Lee, Teacher, Primary
  913. Carol Cooper, KS1 Leader, Primary
  914. Josella Hervey, Inclusion Leader, Secondary
  915. Andrea Moody, EYFS and Primary Teacher
  916. Donna Burton-Wilcock, Head of English, International School
  917. Janet Mansfield, Chair of Governor
  918. Jon Thompson, AST for MFL, Independent Sector
  919. Sinaed Naidoo, EYFS and Teacher, Primary
  920. Lucy Bolsolver Former Secondary teacher and PGCE Course Leader
  921. Steve Whiley Head of History, Academy
  922. Deborah Faulkner, Teacher of Economic and Business, Sixth Form College and Examiner
  923. Gemma Niles, Year 4 Teacher, Primary
  924. Claire McDermott, Head of Psychology, Independent Grammar School
  925. Summer Turner, English Teacher and ICT Co-ordinator, Secondary
  926. Sue Leyden, Educational Psychologist
  927. John Hully, Teacher of IT, Primary
  928. Elaine Blaydes, Teacher, Primary
  929. Claire Dodd, AST Primary Languages, Outreach
  930. Isaac Greaves, Head of MFL, Secondary
  931. Joy Mills, Assistant Headteacher,
  932. Steve Truan, Assistant Headteacher, Secondary
  933. Nicola Daniels, Technology Teacher, Secondary
  934. Kerry Marshall, Teacher, Primary
  935. Roy Tonkin, Teacher of Art, Secondary
  936. Lorraine Price, Teacher, Special Education
  937. Jon Whitehead, Infant Teacher and Parent
  938. Jonathan Blackburne, Deputy Headteacher, Primary
  939. Ross Miller, Year 6 Teacher and Maths Co-ordinator, Primary
  940. Rebecca Beard, Teacher
  941. Penny Stott, Former Teacher
  942. Gemma Tucker, Teacher, Primary
  943. Sue Harris, Primary English Adviser
  944. James Hamilton Scott, Head of Performing Arts, Secondary
  945. Kathy Knight, Teacher and Educational Psychologist
  946. Bob Mitchell, Retired Vice Principal
  947. Patricia Missett, Teacher, Primary
  948. Sharon Humphreys Primary Teacher and Transition Reading Project
  949. Alison Elliot, Headteacher, Secondary
  950. Maria McCarthy, Assistant Headteacher, Secondary
  951. Daniel Whitall, NQT, Primary
  952. Rene Koglbauer, Subject Leader, Secondary
  953. Zoe Barton, Teacher, Secondary Academy
  954. Kelly Banbury, Subject Leader, Secondary
  955. Siobhan McQuilkin, English Teacher, Head of Year, Secondary Education
  956. Dan Woodhouse, Head of English, Secondary
  957. Simon Lowe, Head of RE, Secondary
  958. Giles Falconer, History Teacher, Secondary
  959. John Booth, HE Lecturer
  960. Lesley White, Headteacher, Primary School
  961. Irene Whalley, Further Education
  962. Chrng -Han Wu AST Secondary
  963. Jenni Willis, Lead Teacher in Literacy and Assessment, Primary
  964. Tracey English, Year 5 Teacher, Primary
  965. Jacqueline Morton, EYFS Adviser
  966. Dani Deegan, Teacher of Science, Secondary Grammar School
  967. Martin Said, Head of Music, State Secondary
  968. Kim Noad, Teacher, Primary
  969. Andy Allen, Director of Business, Secondary Academy
  970. Malcolm Jennings, Actor Teacher, Theatre In Education
  971. Neil Finbow, Teacher, Pupils Referral Unit
  972. James Hanson, Sixth Form College
  973. Patrick O’ Donoghue, NQT Primary
  974. Louise Benson, Teacher, Primary
  975. Tracey Langmead, Vice Principal, Secondary Academy
  976. Claire Kennedy, Head of English, Secondary
  977. Kirsty Ridey, Teaching School Leader, Primary
  978. Laurie Mansfield, Senior Examiner in Physics.
  979. Paul Hood, Phase Leader and Class Teacher, Primary
  980. Ed Startup History and Politics, Secondary
  981. Olly Thompson, ICT Teacher, Secondary
  982. Emily Swanson, Teacher, Primary
  983. Anna Lang, Head of Music, Secondary
  984. Jeremy Paige, D&T Teacher, Secondary
  985. Eleanor Hose, Teacher, Primary and Parent
  986. Chris Farrell, Deputy Headteacher, Primary
  987. Zebedee Friedman, Mathematics Facilitator and AST
  988. Emma Willing, AST and MaST, Primary
  989. Joanna Cantwell, English Teacher, Secondary
  990. Maria Rudden, English and Media Teacher, Secondary
  991. Lilian Villafuerte, Teacher of English, International Primary
  992. Helen Shaw, Teacher Primary
  993. Cathie Lacey, Teacher Educator
  994. Margaret Harrison, Teacher, Primary
  995. Claire Dismorr, Primary Teacher and Literacy Co-ordinator
  996. Joe Elwood, Teacher, Primary
  997. Garath Rawson, Science Teacher, Secondary
  998. Rachel Holmes, Teacher, Secondary
  999. Steph Connolly, Curriculum Leader, Maths, Secondary
  1000. Matthew Milburn, Headteacher, Secondary.
  1001. Dr. Paul Clarkson, Teacher of Science, Secondary
  1002. Joanne Smith, Senior Lecturer in Primary Education
  1003. Debra Scurrell, Deputy Headteacher, Primary School
  1004.  Dr. Paul Clarkson, Science Teacher, Secondary
  1005.  Sarah Berke, Year 3 Teacher, Primary
  1006.  Julie Hughes, PCE in HE
  1007.  Linda Sibbons, School Improvement Adviser
  1008. Pip Beer, Visual Impairment Team, Herts.
  1009. Dr. Rona Mackenzie, Principal Designate, UTC
  1010. Sue Swaffield Senior Lecturer in Education, University of Cambridge.
  1011. Becky Cordy, Chair of Governors at 2 primary schools (infant and junior)
  1012. Steve Hitchcock, Headteacher, Primary
  1013. Martin Batchelor, Teacher, Primary
  1014. Clare Sandford EYFS AST, Independent School
  1015. Margaret Newcombe, Year 6 teacher, primary.
  1016. Lucy Johnson, ex teacher.
  1017. Jane Wright Teacher, Primary – Numbers Count
  1018. Beth Bridewell-Mason EYFS Primary PGCE Student
  1019. Alastair Geddes Teacher, Primary
  1020. Helen Gordon, Teacher Sixth Form College
  1021. Jennie Harper Year 1 Teacher, Primary
  1022. Jon Fentiman Maths Co-ordinator
  1023. Stephanie Thompson History, Secondary
  1024. Derek McMillan, Retired teacher, author of The Classroom Teacher Manual
  1025. Angela Hill, English Secondary SEBD
  1026. Debbie Cargill, Teacher Primary
  1027. Robert Cavender, Teacher, Secondary
  1028. Siobhan McGrath Acting Head, Independent Sector
  1029. Rachael Newson, TA Secondary SEN
  1030. Janine Stones, Teacher, Primary
  1031. Nick Tinsdeall Senior Lecturer in Education
  1032. Katy Vanx Teacher Primary
  1033. Su Edwards, retired Headteacher and LA Adviser
  1034. Alex Kenny, Teacher, Secondary. Chair of the NUT Education Committee
  1035. Caroline Wheelhouse, Head of Department ICT Secondary
  1036. Tracy Harman, Tutor, Adult Learning for Adults with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities
  1037. Annie Warwick, Chartered Psychologist
  1038. Lisa Hinton, Deputy Headteacher, Primary
  1039. Jane Davies, Senior Lecturer, Primary Education
  1040. Ron Walton, Teacher
  1041. Mark Sweatman, Teacher of Latin and French, Secondary
  1042. Paul West, Year 6 teacher, Primary
  1043. William. H Taylor, Educational Consultant
  1044. Lucy Kennedy, Year 2 Teacher and Staff Governor
  1045. Freya McLoughlin, Teacher, Primary
  1046. Claire Penketh, Geography, Secondary
  1047. Lisa Coulson, Geography, Secondary
  1048. Fiona Dowley, Teacher
  1049. Zahida Hammond, Associate Vice Principal, Secondary
  1050. Pete Bennet, University Tutor
  1051. Karen Duffy, PGCE Tutor
  1052. Tracey Griffiths, Deputy Head, Primary and Governor
  1053. Angela Lowry, Deputy Headteacher
  1054. Celina Goodfellow, PGCE Student
  1055. Karen Cross, Teacher, Secondary
  1056. Nick Davey Assistant Headteacher, Secondary
  1057. Alison Douthwaite, English Teacher, Secondary
  1058. Caroline Hoggarth, Headteacher, Infant and Nursery School
  1059. Nancy Evans, Director of Learning and Partipation BCMG
  1060. Julia Hope, Lecturer, University of Kent
  1061. Danielle Burnham, Geography, Secondary
  1062. Matthew Dix, Music Specialist
  1063. Sophie Greaves, Teacher, Secondary
  1064. Fiona Joyce, MFL, Secondary
  1065. David Somers, EYFS Teacher, Primary
  1066. Dr. Andy Hodgkinson, Executive Headteacher, Primary
  1067. Clare Martin, Geography, Secondary
  1068. Jonathan Sansom Curriculum Director, Sixth Form College
  1069. Alan Harbottle, Teacher, Primary
  1070. Jennie Bradley Reception Teacher, Primary
  1071. Ruth Heatley, English NQT Secondary
  1072. John Barnes, KS1 Teacher, Maths and Literacy Co-ordinator, Primary
  1073. Hannah Reilly, Teacher, Primaty
  1074. Nishi Saran, Associate Principal, Secondary
  1075. Kate Buttolph, Creative Education Consultant
  1076. Andrew Field, Head of Faculty, Secondary
  1077. Peter Smith, Senior Lecturer in Maths Education, Sheffield Hallam
  1078. Ines Topps Teacher and Middle Manager
  1079. Siobhan Curtis, Reception teacher and Science Co-ordinator, Primary
  1080. Kate Mitchell, SENCO, Primary
  1081. Lynne Copley, Associate Headteacher
  1082. Debra Raffert, Teacher, Primary
  1083. Lynne Harris, Teacher of English 11-19 Secondary
  1084. Alex Peacock KS4 Maths Secondary
  1085. Helen Smith, Middle Leader, Primary
  1086. Bonnie Rogers TA and Parent.
  1087. Sandra David, Assistant Headteacher
  1088. Lizzie Cutler-Davies, Teacher, Primary
  1089. Jodie Gearing, Head of Art, Middle School
  1090. Hannah Pearson, Assistant Headteacher, Primary
  1091. Gillian Challenger, RS Secondary
  1092. Naomi Edwards EYFS Teacher
  1093. Sue Eaglie, Retired Head and Primary Consultant
  1094. Tracey Button, NQT Primary
  1095. Fiona Gray, Teacher of the Deaf, Primary
  1096. Kirsty Barlow, Senior Tutor ESOL, Adult Education.
  1097. Denise Tonkin, Retired Deputy Head, Secondary
  1098. Sam Smyth Assistant Headteacher, Primary
  1099. John Field, PGCE Student
  1100. Robert Lamb, Teacher, PRU 11-16
  1101. Baron Miles Director Careers, FE
  1102. Ian Grove-Stephensen, Educational Publisher, The Chalk Face Project
  1103. Stuart Boothman, Headteacher, Secondary
  1104. Lousie Cummings, Primary PGCE
  1105. Shabnam Bibi, English Teacher, Secondary
  1106. Adam Blackwell, Lecturer of Psychology, FE
  1107. Michael Tracey, MFL, Independent Sector
  1108. Bertram Richter, Curriculum Leader, MFL Secondary
  1109. Alyson Stevenson, Retired Primary Headteacher
  1110. Fiona Ranson Education Adviser, LA
  1111. Veronica Leader, Retired English Teacher
  1112. David Wooldridge, DT, 11-18 Comprehensive
  1113. Jacqui Southern, SEN Secondary
  1114. Ruth Magee, MFL, Secondary Academy
  1115. Cat Jones Teacher Primary.
  1116. Ginette Gillard, Retired Art Teacher, Secondary.
  1117. Rhiannon Scutt, Secondary
  1118. Luke Walters, Teacher of English, Independent
  1119. Ceri Camilleri, Teacher, Primary
  1120. Andrew Paton, Teacher, Primary Academy
  1121. Emily Coates, Teacher, Primary
  1122. Dan Clayton, English, Sixth Form College
  1123. Lady Anita O Brien, retired lecturer in Music, HE
  1124. Luke Abbott, Teacher
  1125. Julie Chase, Educational Psychologist and Mother.
  1126. Carrie Land, Teacher, Primary
  1127. Helen Barkworth-Knight, MFL, Teacher of English, International
  1128. Vicki Stokes, Teacher, Primary for 16 years. Recently appointed as Lecturer in Education, HE
  1129. Ben. A Harvey. Ex-Teacher
  1130. Clare Allport, Teacher, Primary
  1131. Debbie Petts, Assistant Headteacher, Academy
  1132. Joana Barron, English Teacher, Sixth Form College
  1133. Jenny Willis, Teacher of Science, Secondary
  1134. Mark Deacon, Teacher.
  1135. Dawn Denyer, Head of Maths, Secondary
  1136. Helen Yorke Primary Governor
  1137. Natalie Martin, Head of English, Secondary
  1138. Nicola Padley, EYFS Teacher, Primary
  1139. Lyn Lawrence, Teacher, Primary
  1140. Julian Rose, Teacher, Primary
  1141. Anne Reyersbach, Retired Headteacher.
  1142. Ruth Matthews, Teacher of the Deaf
  1143. Mike Healey, ICT Development Officer, Secondary.
  1144. Laura Nicholls, Teacher of RE, Secondary
  1145. Zoe MacGechan, Teacher
  1146. Kay Fuller, Course Leader, PGDipEd, Secondary English
  1147. E. Shearer, History Teacher, Secondary
  1148. Adrian Johnson, NQT
  1149. Pat Putler, English Teacher, Secondary Academy.
  1150. Helen Webster, EYFS PGCE Student.
  1151. Debi Hedderwick, Dance Artist, Learning Through Arts
  1152. Ed Hogan, Retired Teacher
  1153. Bob Delbridge, Supply Teacher
  1154. Yvonne Hunt, Headteacher, Primary
  1155. Charlotte Bell, Year 6 Teacher, Primary
  1156. Clive Wilkinson, TA, Secondary
  1157. Trace Currall, Head of English, Summerhill
  1158. Emma Gildea, Assistant Head, Secondary
  1159. Lia Border, Specialist Teacher for Learners with Dyslexia/SPCD
  1160. Rachel Stone, Teachers of Functional Mathematics and Family Learning, Adult Education College; Lecturer HE
  1161. Linda Adcock, Principal Lecturer, HE
  1162. Julie Hymers, Teacher, Primary
  1163. Michael Lynch, English Teacher, Sixth Form College
  1164. Anthony Heald, English Teacher and Examiner, Sixth Form College
  1165. Parm Mann, English Teacher, Secondary
  1166. Helen Hoarle, Headteacher, Primary
  1167. Paul Gabriel, Headteacher and Local Leader of Education, Primary
  1168. Alison Meaton, Foundation Stage Leader, Primary
  1169. Claire Sewell, Lecturer, HE
  1170. Sue Howes, Teacher, Primary, Voluntary Aided
  1171. Lesley Holditch, Retired Teacher and Educational Psychologist
  1172. Paddy Turner, Education Developer, HE
  1173. Margaret Mcnally, Teacher, Primary, Parent and Grandparent
  1174. Jo Cockram, SEN Teacher, Secondary
  1175. John Sutter, Teacher/Teacher Trainer, HE
  1176. Andrew Dickinson, Head of Faculty, Secondary Upper
  1177. Helen Hann, Teacher, Primary
  1178. Fran Vere, Teacher of Photography and Art, Secondary
  1179. Marilyn Daniel, Teacher, Primary
  1180. Richard Willis, Ex-Teacher, Ex-Governor and Parent Representative of Local Academy Secondary Forum.
  1181. James Mannion, Teacher, Secondary
  1182. Rosie Gamble, Teacher, Primary
  1183. Shelley Jones, Deputy Headteacher, Primary
  1184. Howard Leader, Retired Teacher
  1185. Andrea Kaminski, SENCO and Teacher, Primary
  1186. Molly Scanlan, PGCE Student, Primary
  1187. Katy Gibbins, Teacher, Primary
  1188. Penny Lacey, Lecturer in Coach in Special School
  1189. Alison Shelley, English Teacher, Sixth Form College
  1190. Hayley Charlton, Head of ICT and Business Studies, Secondary
  1191. Christa Morley, Support Teacher, ASD and Early Years
  1192. Lisa Robinson, TA, Primary and MA Student
  1193. Debs Gwynn, English Teacher, Secondary
  1194. Rebecca Bunkle, Teacher, Primary
  1195. Colin Bickley, Retired Deputy Head, Special School
  1196. Richard Beeden, Teacher, Academy
  1197. Elizabeth Kemp, Teacher, Primary
  1198. Angle Matthews, Teacher, Primary
  1199. Julie Squires, Teacher, Primary
  1200. Laura Green, Senior Lecturer, HE
  1201. Jennifer Hopwood, PGCE Student in English, Secondary
  1202. Helen Salthouse, PGCE Student, Primary
  1203. Melissa Parker, Head of ICT, Secondary
  1204. Anne-Marie Henderson, Head of Geography, Secondary
  1205. John Holt, Teacher of English and A-Level Examiner, Secondary
  1206. Martyn Henson, Teacher of History and Archaeology, Secondary
  1207. Dawn Convery, SEN Teacher, Secondary
  1208. Chris Greenall, Head of Sixth Form
  1209. Deborah Fones, Head of English, State Catholic Comprehensive School
  1210. Jenny Saunders, Teacher, Primary
  1211. Martin Smith, Teacher and Lower School Leader, Primary
  1212. Gesine Kuckei, Teacher, Early Years and PSHE Co-Ordinator
  1213. Sarah Parekh, Assistant Head, Primary
  1214. Melanie Townsend, Head of English and Media, Academy
  1215. Lesley Hodgson, Headteacher
  1216. Jo Ling, Teacher, Forest School Leader, Mother, Grandmother
  1217. Celia Deakin, Second in English, Secondary
  1218. John Gillard, Retired Art Teacher, Secondary
  1219. Beverley Wilson, Subject Leader of English Language, SFC Academy
  1220. Kay Thompson, Teacher and Secondary School Governor, Special School
  1221. Stephen Hone, Law Teacher, Secondary
  1222. Dr Neil Burton, Teacher, Primary and Secondary, Educational Consultant, HE Tutor
  1223. Martin Illingworth, English Teacher and PGCE Tutor, Secondary
  1224. Melanie Horne, Teacher and SENCo, Primary
  1225. Carie Wells, Teacher, Primary- Voluntary Aided
  1226. Pascale Lariven, Teacher of French and Theory and Knowledge, International
  1227. Alison Symons, Teacher of Music, Secondary
  1228. A. McCluskey, Teacher of Science, Secondary
  1229. Michael Symons, Co-Director English and Media Centre
  1230. Alison Brett, TA, Primary
  1231. Terence Bevington, Special Teacher
  1232. Lisa Kelly, Teacher and Parent, Primary
  1233. Michael Kelly, Teacher and Parent, Primary
  1234. Dom Clarkson, Teacher, Primary
  1235. Tracey Alma-Coulter, Teacher, Primary
  1236. Alan Green, Retired Teacher
  1237. Paula Moss, Creative Consultant and Learning Consultant
  1238. Suzanne Broom, Teacher, Early Years
  1239. Ben Wilde,  Teacher of Art, Academy
  1240. L. Simpson, TA, Primary
  1241. Chris Botschin, KS 3 Co-ordinator, Secondary
  1242. S.McCavanagh, English Secondary
  1243. Christopher Hartnett, Music Teacher, Secondary
  1244. Sandra Howarth, Ex Teacher, Consultant for Excellence East, Policy Adviser for Gifted and Talented
  1245. Nicky Winder English Sixth Form College
  1246. Daev Jones, Senior Lecturer for Science Education and Teacher, HE
  1247. Robin Ball, ex Teacher, ec BECTA and current head of Product and Content – Education City.
  1248. Joanne Strachan, Lecturer, HE
  1249. Sandra Watt, Teacher, Primary
  1250. Clarissa Ford, Head of English, Sixth Form College
  1251. Laura Butler, English, Secondary
  1252. David Harbord, Head of Media, Secondary
  1253. Hannah Pike, Primary PGCE
  1254. Helen Mahoney, English Teacher, Secondary
  1255. Tricia Le Gallais, Teacher Trainer and researcher, HE
  1256. Jane Mosedale, Colchester Sixth Form College
  1257. Christine Jones, MFL, Secondary
  1258. Jenny Newman, Learning Leader, English, Secondary Academy
  1259. Helen Larcombe, Teacher, Primary
  1260. Rita Hicklin, Assistant Director of Learning, Secondary Academy
  1261. Amanda Bibby, Vice Principal, Academy
  1262. Carol Jepson, University Link Tutor
  1263. Ellen Watson, Teacher, Primary
  1264. Keiran Knight, Geography Teacher, Primary
  1265. Alison Gabriel, EYFS Teacher
  1266. Muriel Caddy, Consultant, Primary
  1267. S.McCavanagh, Teacher of English, Secondary
  1268.  Alex Gwinnett, Teacher, Primary
  1269. Mike Curry, Teacher, SEBD Special Education
  1270. Mr. Manjinder Bhandal, Teacher of ICT, Secondary
  1271. Jenny Lloyd, Governor, Primary
  1272. David Sims, Head of Geography, Secondary
  1273. Dr. Matthew Pearson, Educational Consultant
  1274. Marie Joubert, Educational Researcher in Mathematics. HE
  1275. Lesley Smith, Teacher, Primary
  1276. Nick Heritage, Year 5 Teacher, Primary
  1277. Keith Maxwell, Teacher, Primary
  1278. Natalie Barnett, NQT primary
  1279. Kerry Ford, Teacher, Primary and Parent.
  1280. Jacky Mills, Senior Teacher, Primary
  1281. Francesca Rutherford, EYFS Advisory Teacher
  1282. Cati Sykes, Teacher, Primary
  1283. Jackie Berry, MFL Teacher, Primary
  1284. Carol Webb, Secondary School Librarian.
  1285. Beth Kemp, English Teacher, Secondary.
  1286. Helen Mahoney, Teacher of English, Secondary.
  1287. Mike Gaunt, Teacher, Secondary
  1288. Catherine Jollands, Teacher, Primary Academy
  1289. Nina Gambler, Teacher, Primary
  1290. Jill Catmull, soon to be redundant Head of Drama, Secondary
  1291. Jane Johnson, Head of MFL, Secondary. Parent.
  1292. Jim Crawley, Education Lecturer, HE
  1293. Rebecca Smith, Teacher, Primary
  1294. Tony Geisthorpe, School Governor
  1295. Jackie Powell, Teacher, Primary
  1296. Dr. Ross Cooper, Teacher Trainer and Neurodiversity Consultant.
  1297. Andrew Connel, Teacher, Primary
  1298. Carolyn Swain, retired teacher and curriculum adviser, School Governor
  1299. Rob Connelly, Student Teacher
  1300. John Awty, Teacher of Geography and Geology, Sixth Form College, A Level Examiner.
  1301. Lyz Gardner, Teacher, Secondary
  1302. Louise Cranshaw, Teacher, Primary
  1303. Elizabeth Gunstone, Teacher of English
  1304. Lauren Belcher, Trainee Teacher, Secondary
  1305. Adam Hailsworth, Lead teacher for Science, Secondary PRU
  1306. Janette Coward, Teacher, Primary,
  1307. Samina Asif, Assistant Head Teacher, Primary
  1308. Dean Hackett, Senior Lecturer, ITT, HE
  1309. Tracey Coulter, Teacher, Secondary
  1310. Julie Lamin, Former English Consultant, currently Intervention and Support Teacher
  1311. Clare Blackhall, 3Di Associates, Director
  1312. Kate Simmons, GTP, RE, Secondary
  1313. Margaret Evans, Teacher of Physics, Secondary
  1314. Clare Hollis, Teacher, Primary
  1315. Tony McConnell, Head of Year, Secondary
  1316. Jamie Allen, KS Manager, Primary
  1317. Louise Callaghan, KS1, Primary
  1318. Amanda Dolan, Teacher, Primary
  1319. Debbie Keith, Teacher Secondary Academy
  1320. John McCourt, Deputy Head Teacher, Secondary
  1321. Rebecca Kellaway, PGCE student, School Governor
  1322. Harriet Smith, Head of Department, MFL, Secondary
  1323. Tamsin Young, Teacher, Primary
  1324. Anita Gill, MFL Teacher, Head of Year, Secondary
  1325. Susan Young, Languages Teacher, Secondary
  1326. Elizabeth Bentley, School librarians, Secondary.
  1327. Mark Champion Head of English, Secondary
  1328. Kate Truan, Teacher, Primary
  1329. Susie Hatch, Teacher, Primary
  1330. Nicholas Schober, Teacher of Science, Secondary Academy
  1331. Lucy Atkinson, Teacher, Primary
  1332. Jon Denny, English Teacher, Secondary
  1333. Sue Towler, Teacher plus literacy coordinator, Secondary
  1334. Kathy Barkway, Retired Primary Headteacher and PGCE External Examiner.
  1335. Mark Burrows, Teacher, Secondary
  1336. Claire Stancliffe, Teacher, Primary
  1337. Rachael Goodwin, Head of Drama, Secondary
  1338. Kyrie Jeffrey, Teacher, Primary
  1339. Paula Snook, Teacher of History, Head of Year, Secondary
  1340. Helen Banhill, Director of Science, Secondary
  1341. Jennifer Hutton, Lecturer, HE College
  1342. Trevor Tolentino, Teacher, Primary
  1343. Majilda Khatun, Teacher, Secondary
  1344. Rachel Burchell, Teacher, Primary
  1345. Claire Greengrass, Teacher, Special Education
  1346. Aaron Hui, Maths Teacher Secondary Academy
  1347. Christina Wright, Head of Science, Special Education
  1348. Sally Robertson, CEO, International Schools Theatre Association
  1349. Elena Cadman, Student Teacher
  1350. Natalie Gervaise-Jones, Teacher, Primary
  1351. Asma Laher, Maths
  1352. Sophie Richardson Teacher, Primary
  1353. Steve Beaty, Music Teacher, Secondary
  1354. Emily Haskins, Teacher, Primary
  1355. Cathy Savage, English Secondary
  1356. Alison Turney, Teacher, Primary
  1357. Bill Corbett, Retired Assistant Headteacher and Union caseworker.
  1358. Ken Homes, Teacher, Primary
  1359. Julie Freeman, Teacher, Primary
  1360. Vicky Taylor, Parent
  1361. Amanda Lawson, Teacher, Secondary
  1362. Shareen Hove, Teacher, Secondary
  1363. Gill Murray, Teacher
  1364. Matt Hollister, Teacher, Primary
  1365. Roz Burch, Headteacher, Primary
  1366. Lynne Fernie, Teacher, Primary
  1367. Ian Gray, Teacher, Primary
  1368. Joanna Taylor, Headteacher, PHSE, Secondary
  1369. Lynne Copley, Teacher
  1370. Ross McNeil, Teacher,
  1371. Faye Worthy-Pauling, Reading Co-Ordinator, Primary
  1372. Aaron Todd, Lecturer in Engineering, HE
  1373. Fraser Sparks, Teacher of Technology, Secondary
  1374. Rachel Burchell, Teacher, Primary
  1375. Sally Robinson, Reading Recovery Teacher, Primary
  1376. Sarah Curtis, Headteacher, Primary.
  1377. Karen Wrighton, Head of Social Sciences, Secondary Academy
  1378. Tanya Blake, Teacher
  1379. Adam Jacob, Head of 6th Form, Secondary
  1380. Jonathan Humble, Deputy Headteacher, Primary
  1381. Barry Tipton, Principal of an Independent International School, Africa.
  1382. Holly Brand, Assistant Headteacher, EYFS.
  1383. Duncan Green, TA, Primary
  1384. Zoe Byrne, Leader of English, Primary
  1385. Sue Leyman, Executive Headteacher, Primary
  1386. Mr. J. Brailsford, Teacher of English, Secondary.
  1387. Laura Asquith, KS5 Coordinator, Science, Secondary
  1388. Pat Stone, Reading Recovery Teacher, Primary
  1389. Adam Gillett, Headteacher, Secondary
  1390. Julie Cigmanm EYFS Consultant, Trainer and Writer
  1391. Tim Wilkes, Head of Expressive Arts, Secondary
  1392. Kathryn Hutchings, Key Stage 4 Co-ordinator, Secondary
  1393. Karen Graham, Headteacher, Primary
  1394. Karen Teasdale, Senior Lecturer, HE
  1395. Teressa Cornish, Head of Citizenship, Secondary
  1396. Stephanie Ironside Hollister, Teacher
  1397. Helen Dean, Deputy Headteacher, Primary
  1398. Laura Tyrell, Teacher and Counsellor, International School
  1399. Pamela Wilkes, Teacher, Primary
  1400. Patrice Baldwin, Chair of National Drama, Executive Forum Member of the World Alliance for Arts Education
  1401. Elspeth Myles, Teacher, Primary
  1402. Philippa Sheikh, Teacher, Primary
  1403. Jenny Eyles, Head of Creative Design, Secondary Academy
  1404. Jake Brown, Teacher, Primary
  1405. Lucy McCully, Teacher, Primary
  1406. Karina White, Literacy Co-ordinator, Primary.

And the Original 98 Academics.

Prof Michael Bassey, Nottingham Trent University

Prof Terry Wrigley, Leeds Metropolitan University

Prof Meg Maguire   King’s College London

Prof Dave Hill, Anglia Ruskin University

Prof Stan Tucker, Newman University

Prof John Schostak, Manchester Metropolitan University

Prof Sally Tomlinson, Goldsmiths College, University of London and University of Oxford

Dr Tamara Bibby  Institute of Education, University of London

Prof Justin Dillon  King’s College London

Prof Richard Hatcher, Birmingham City University

Dr Peter Hick  Manchester Metropolitan University (PL)

Dr Peter Jones, Sheffield Hallum University

Ashley Barnes, Sheffield Hallum University

Hanneke Jones, Newcastle University

Anthony Green  Institute of Education, University of London

Prof David Leat, Newcastle University

Prof Heather Piper,  Manchester Metropolitan University

Prof Carrie Paechter, Goldsmiths College, University of London

Assoc Prof Joanna Haynes, Plymouth University

Alpesh Maisuria, Anglia Ruskin University

Dr Dave Trotman, Newman University

Prof Dennis Atkinson, Goldsmiths College, University of London

John Wadsworth, Goldsmiths College, University of London

Prof Tony Brown, Manchester Metropolitan University

Prof Clyde Chitty, Goldsmiths College, University of London

Prof Yvonne Solomon, Manchester Metropolitan University

Prof Helen Colley, Huddersfield University

Prof Richard Andrews, Institute of Education, University of London

Karen Grossman, Institute of Education, University of London

Prof Richard Pring, University of Oxford

Prof Liz Todd, University of Newcastle

Dr Jane Murray, Northampton  (SL)

Dr Gerry Czerniawski, University of East London

Gail Edwards, University of Newcastle

Geoff Bright, Manchester Metropolitan  University

Dr Linda Hammersley-Fletcher, Manchester Metropolitan University

Susan Cox,  University of East Anglia

Prof John Furlong, University of Oxford

Dr Hilary Cremin, University of Cambridge

Richard Cowley Institute of Education, University of London

Prof Jane Martin, University of Birmingham

Allison Tatton, Newman University

Stephen Griffin, Newman University

Prof Keri Facer, University of Bristol

Helen Davenport, Manchester Metropolitan University

Dr Tony Eaude, University of Oxford

Prof Michael Fielding, Institute of Education, University of London

Prof Patricia Thomson, University of Nottingham

Dr Sarah Amsler, University of Lincoln

Prof Harvey Goldstein, University of Bristol

Prof Lucy Green, Institute of Education, University of London

Sarah Dyke, Manchester Metropolitan University

Dr Hugh Busher, University of Leicester

Dr Gee Macrory, Manchester Metropolitan University

Prof Martin Fautley, Birmingham City University

Judith Flynn, Manchester Metropolitan University

Iain Jones, Newman University

Prof Mel Ainscow, University of Manchester

Prof Lori Beckett, Leeds Metropolitan University

Dr Gillian Marie McGillivray, Newman University

Kathleen Middleton, Institute of Education, University of London

Dr Alison Taysum, University of Leicester

Dr Maarten Tas, University of Leicester

Prof John Elliott University of East Anglia

Prof Roger Dale, University of Bristol

Dr Catherine Burke, University of Cambridge

Dr Cathy Lewin, Manchester Metropolitan University

Peter Wright, Institute of Education, University of London

Prof Charles Crook,  University of Nottingham

Prof Margaret Brown,  King’s College London

Chris Watkins, Institute of Education, University of London 82

Prof Patrick Ainley, University of Greenwich

Peter Tallant, University of Roehampton

Eleanor Milligan,  University of East Anglia

Prof Andrew Pollard, Institute of Education, London / University of Bristol

Andrew Pearce, Leeds Trinity University

Prof Colin Richards, University of Cumbria

Prof Frank Coffield, Institute of Education, London

Prof Guy Claxton, University of Winchester

Prof Marilyn Leask, University of Bedfordshire

Prof Patricia Broadfoot, University of Bristol

Prof Bernard Barker, University of Leicester

Prof Roger Murphy, University of Nottingham

Prof Ron Glatter, Open University

Prof Ron Best, University of Roehampton

Prof Vivienne Griffiths,  Canterbury Christ Church University

Prof William Boyle, University of Manchester

Debra Kidd, Manchester Metropolitan University

Jon Berry, University of Hertfordshire

Dr Derek Haylock, University of East Anglia

Jonathan Barnes, Canterbury Christ Church University

Prof Helen Gunter, University of Manchester

Prof Julian Williams, University of Manchester

Dr Joyce Canaan, Birmingham City University

Prof Olwen McNamara, University of Manchester

Sean Doyle, Liverpool John Moore University

Rachel Lofthouse, Newcastle University

Christine Hickman, Liverpool John Moore University

Dr Helen Demetriou, University of Cambridge

Pura Ariza, Manchester Metropolitan University

1,779 thoughts on “Calling All Teachers”

  3. Please add my name to your letter. I am a class teacher in a London primary school. I am fed up with Gove trampling over the teaching profession/any opposition to his plans. It is time he paid heed to evidence instead of his own misguided ideology.

    Reply

  4. Completely agree with everything said. The sooner Gove goes, the better. Secondary school teacher

    Reply

  5. Brilliantly articulated. Whole heartedly agree! I am a Science Teacher in an Academy Birmingham

    Reply

  7. Well said!
    I’m a primary school teacher in West London and am totally fed up of Mr Gove treating our profession with utter contempt.

    Reply

  10. Hi, I totally endorse the comments made above and would hope that the curriculum could be more research based and with more of a focus on educating the whole child.

    Reply

  15. Art and Design teacher at Northampton Academy – please add my signature. We need to protect our excellent educational system from this omnishambles ‘let’s-make-a-quick-buck’ of a coalition.

    Reply

  16. I fully support this message.
    Give has done enough damage to our schools already, and this new curriculum is one step too far back to the 1950s.

    Dear Mr Gove; just because this is the way you learnt things at private school in the 60s, it’s not the way we should do things in the 21at century – please wake up and smell the staffroom coffee!

    Lozi, CT at state primary school.

    Reply

  17. I agree with the concerns voiced here about Mr Gove’s policies, which seem to be based on misunderstandings and preconceived ideas. I am not a Marxist. I value Shakespeare and the teaching of history. But I do not value prejudice, ignorance, mean-spirited vitriol in the place of debate or the rejection of expertise that questions ill-considered policies.
    Doctor Richard Lodge, Head of English, Conyers School – a comprehensive school in northern England.

    Reply

  19. Hi Debbie
    I’d like to be added, NQT at a primary school in Salford. A graduate from MMU and lucky recipient of knowledge and skills gained from both yourself and Becky Patterson!

    Reply

    1. Hi Rebecca! I remember you well – according to Michael Gove, you were brainwashed by the ‘blob’, but I just remember lots of role play as Tigers!

      Reply

  20. I totally agree, sign me up! I’m a Deputy Head at a North Tyneside Primary School.

    Reply

  21. I’m a primary teacher in Newcastle upon Tyne and I support this completely.

    Reply

  23. I whole-heartedly agree. Please add my name to the letter. Secondary English teacher.

    Reply

  25. Please add my signature and let’s hope someone is listening.
    Primary Headteacher, Norfolk

    Reply

  27. I fully support the above comments. Please add my name to the letter:
    Gordon Baillie AST Secondary

    Reply

  28. You have my support – a perfectly expressed response to Mr Gove! I am an English teacher at the Henley College (state sixth form college).

    Reply

  29. Thank you for writing the letter I wanted to write but didn’t know where to start!

    – I work in Essex and London
    – I am a specialist in primary music education and teacher training

    Please put my name to this!

    Reply

  34. Excellent article
    Agree and support
    Suzannah
    Head of Humanities, Oldham Sixth Form College
    Chair of Governors Parrswood High School, Cavendish Primary School

    Reply

  35. So glad you’ve destroyed this false dichotomy that if you are pro skills you are anti knowledge. Skills without knowledge is an impossible state to achieve, but knowledge without skills is reductionist and limiting. Let’s get away from Goveian policy-based evidence – let;s have evidence-based policy for a change. You can most certainly add my name – I’m an independent consultant for MFL, working across primary and secondary, and an AST Assessor.

    Reply

  36. Fantastic! I fully agree with each valid and balanced point.
    I became a teacher in order to inspire creativity, critical thinking and reflection, along with allowing the uniqueness of each young mind to be encouraged in a supportive environment. Education no longer feels like a place where children can be encouraged to flourish, develop and be enthusiastic free thinkers in this current climate of fear.
    Please add me to the letter.
    Jo Hulme Deputy head of an inner city primary school
    Gr Manchester

    Reply

  37. I am not a teacher but work a lot with school staff and am a mother and grandmother-am so pleased to be able to add my name to this-if Mr Grove gets his way we will return to the last century if not the one before and all the fantastic work that school staff do will be trampled over and go unrecognised

    Reply

  38. I agree and support this statement. I was a secondary English teacher in Yorkshire. I have recently left teaching, mainly due to the stress, strain, and excrement dumped on teachers by Gove. I highly doubt I will go back into the classroom because of what he has done to education.

    Reply

  40. Education has taken far too many hits and doesn’t need yet another. Please add me to the list. RE teacher

    Reply

  42. Please add me. Appalled by the narrow mindedness and sheer dullness of the proposed History curriculum alone! “A collector of facts is about as useful as a collector of matchboxes.”(As a great Marxist historian once said.) Indeed, learning and teaching about matchbox collection might be more interesting….

    Reply

  43. I agree , please add my name .

    Steve piggot
    Assistant Headteacher
    Secondary school (11-18) in Northamptonshire

    Reply

  44. Completely agree. My main goal in my job is to make students think and not to make them memorise facts. Add me please.

    Reply

  45. Please add me: Jane Constantine, Curriculum Leader for English, 11-18 School in Sussex

    Reply

  46. I don’t know if you can add me as I am not currently working in the UK but hope to be returning next year and the thought of teaching this way is utterly depressing!

    Wendy Banks, English Coordinator, Dubai (previously Manchester)

    Reply

    1. Of course I can add you Wendy – one of the reasons so many British (and American) teachers are flocking to the International school system is to get away from the kind of nonsense being imposed by their governments. I’ve worked a lot with International schools – the PYP, MYP and IB are brilliant examples of how a curriculum can flourish and support human development and enquiry. Glad to have you on board.

      Reply

  47. Please add my support to your list. I am a British trained secondary English teacher who has taught in the UK but is temporarily teaching overseas. The British education system needs to be protected from some of the changes the current government is proposing. Great teachers show you where to look but they don’t tell you what to see!

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  50. Wow! Fantastic argument. Would definitely like to put my name to it. I’m a primary school teacher in Manchester.

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  51. Couldn’t have put it better myself :), I am a secondary teacher with senior responsibility for T&L, teaching in a British curriculum school in Dubai, add me to the list! Thanks! Rachael Edgar @dubai_teachmeet

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  52. Well done, Debra. Please add me to your list. I work now as an independent MFL adviser and ITT lecturer after a lifetime of secondary teaching, LA advisor, educational publisher and even Ofsted inspector (!). I can’t believe the damage this arrogant and deluded man has done to the profession and the subject I love in such a short space of time.

    Reply

  53. I work part-time as an English teacher in a state secondary school and I can’t understand how Gove feels able to make such strong statements and destructive changes with no personal experience of working in education, and has such little value for anyone who has. Thank you for this excellent, reasoned letter.

    Reply

  54. Brilliant letter.
    John Wilks (General Secretary, the London Association for the Teaching of English)
    PS It should be “practising” in para 4!

    Reply

    1. Aha – you spotted the deliberate error! Thanks for pointing it out – it is corrected and might now pass the SPAG test. But, no of course it wouldn’t, because it makes sense!

      Reply

  55. I can not believe that one person can possibly ruin what thousands of us have been working towards for many years! EYFS teacher. Cheshire.

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  56. What a well thought out and articulate letter. I trained in England, worked in Scotland and now work internationally at a British school. I have been considerably shocked by the intentions of Mr Gove and hope that somebody, somewhere in the government will listen to the voice of reason. You mention Finnish teachers and their requirement to have a Masters qualification, in Scotland this idea was introduced in the form of Chartered Teachers and I was 3/4 of the way through this qualification when budget cuts came and this was the first thing to be axed, the problem of not respecting the profession is unfortunately not just limited to England. I support you in your efforts to put reason on the agenda and I wonder if Mr Gove has forgotten the words of Mr Gradgrind in Dicken’s Hard Times? Are the future generation being educated to merely be ‘hands’? Are they not worth nurturing, challenging and coaching for jobs which to our knowledge do not yet exist? Who is going to take them there?
    Respect for what you are trying to do.
    E Mackie

    Reply

  58. Please add my name and my wife’s name (Dawn Liddle-Mcghee) to the list. I am a secondary History AST or at least was until the delightful Mr Gove decided to get rid of our posts and my wife is a TA in a special ASD School.

    Reply

  59. Well expressed and I completely agree. Please add me too: Justin Bulpett, English Teacher in a LEA funded (at the moment) secondary school.

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  60. You can add me as well. I left the UK in 1996 Six years into my teaching career because I couldn’t stand what the Tories were doing to education. I have been working overseas ever since. It makes me want to weep every time I hear Gove open his mouth.

    Reply

    1. I think a lot of British teachers have found solace in the International School’s system Ian – there have been lots of you signing with the same message. Thanks for your support.

      Reply

  61. Please add me:
    Tom Schulz, High School Theater Director
    Singapore American School
    Singapore

    Reply

  62. Seems to me that education in this country is rapidly going the way that many other ‘great’ institutes of the uk are going or gone!! Downhill. As an NQT in DT and also the parent of a small child entering the education system this really scares me. Do we not learn by doing – as oppossed to being broadcast at. In the literal sense i know not to touch flames as i can get burnt (learnt by experience). This man needs removing from his post immediately before he causes enough damage that cannot be turned around. Hopefully i have read and interpreted this correctly using the skills i was actually given at school!!!

    Reply

  63. A powerful and convincing rebuttal of Gove’s increasingly desperate rhetoric.
    Amy Sharp
    English teacher, Newham.

    Reply

  64. I fully agree. Please add my support. Lucie Trickett, NQT of English and Drama, Secondary school.

    Reply

  65. Please add my name, Emma Caudwell, Year 1/2 Primary Teacher and Specialist Dyslexia Teacher.

    Reply

  69. Hi Debra

    I just posted this invitation to sign on my Facebook page, for folk to access the letter and sign

    Dave

    (Dave Hill, Research Professor of Education at Anglia Ruskin University)

    Reply

  70. Not only are sections of the ‘content’ of the National Curriculum, imposed by Gove a problem, but critically his attempt to impose an uninformed understanding of the nature of learning, will blunt and damage education.

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  72. An excellent response; an impressive balance of objectivity and obvious passion. Thank you.
    Please add me to the list -I am a HoScience in an 11-16 secondary school.
    I am adding a link to this on my facebook page and onto twitter in teh hope that my teacher friends and parent friends will support you ( all).

    Reply

  73. Thank you so much for such an articulate response. Please add me
    Jackie Schneider, primary school teacher.

    I don’t want to hijack your post but I am speechless that Labour have failed to grasp this particular mantle. They could be investigating, carrying out research putting in FOI requests talking to teachers parents etc but they appear to be doing nothing. Lack of opposition to Gove is extremely dangerous. Could you encourage your supporters on twitter to use the hash tag #GoTwiggGo to ask Stephen Twigg MP to start taking action?

    Reply

  75. Thanks for expressing many points in this debate so clearly Debra. Am keen to support. Was primary headteacher, now working as freelance music teacher/director in primary, secondary and with adults.

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  77. A fantastic article, well done, Debra! Sign me up!
    Jessica Rafferty, Primary School Teacher

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  78. As a trainee teacher currently working as a TA in a junior school, these changes are doubly worrying – not only for what kind of environment we will join when qualified but also because our course is rendered irrelevant even as we are studying it – for example whole swathes of ICT essays and lectures now defunct. The value to us in learning the skills etc is of course undeniable but we feel our degree is being devalued – our tutors are referring us to legislation which is now archived but they have no choice as no replacements have been issued yet! Scary times for all.

    Reply

  79. An excellent piece and covers points that we all agree. With 30 years of teaching it is obvious that the changes being made and proposed are not going to result in a better education system.

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  80. With only a small amount of experience, I struggle to understand the philosophy behind the new curriculum and we would be failing children if we did not speak up. Please sign me up.

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  81. Please add me to this very crucial message. I’m a secondary school Drama teacher.

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  82. Great letter, please add me to the list.
    eLearning Manager, Oldham Sixth Form College

    Reply

  84. Fantastic letter, please add my name to the list.

    Sociology teacher Oldham Sixth Form.

    Reply

  85. Please add me Debbie. I agree with all of your comments!

    Gillie Kerrod, freelance drama practitioner and youth theatre director.

    Reply

  86. Completely agree. Will look forward to finding out how many you get!

    Head of PSHE and Teacher of Humanities in a secondary academy in Greater Manchester.

    Reply

  87. Completely agree! Will look forward to funding out how many you get signed up. Please add my name:

    Natalie Ford – Head of PSHE and teacher of Humanities at a secondary academy in Greater Manchester

    Reply

  88. I agree, thanks for taking time to write it, please add me.
    Received via FB will also share to pass the message on.
    Thanks,
    Jane Mearns, Year 5 Teacher, North East England

    Reply

  89. This great. My full support. Stephen Finegold, Youth Theatre Teacher,
    Years 11 – 13.

    Reply

  90. I agree with being able to protest without being labelled as ‘Marxist’ and hope this letter has some impact on Mr. Gove. I would love to know whether he has actually taught a group of 30 children to read? Or whether he has taught a group to write? Perhaps he should listen to those who have.
    Thank you for taking the time to put forward some of the arguments.
    Sarah Tindal, Year 1 Teacher, Calderdale

    Reply

  91. You have my full support – please add me to your list
    Stephanie Holt (formally OSF Law Tutor)

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  92. Couldn’t have said it better. Add me in.
    Nicola barthorpe. Director of humanities

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  93. What a wonderful letter. A coherent and properly reasoned approach to a man who is seemingly unable to do the same. Please add me to the list. I am a part time English teacher.

    Fran Keayes

    Reply

  95. I am a Primary School teacher in a disadvantaged Inner City school – shortly to become an academy, unfortunately.

    Although I doubt very much that this will make the slightest bit of difference considering the Secretary of State’s obvious contempt for our profession, please add me.

    Eleanor Robinson

    Reply

    1. It may not Eleanor, but if nothing else, it’s reminding us that there are more people out here who feel like we do. Thanks for signing up.

      Reply

  96. Totally agree, please add me to the list. I’m a former museum educator and mum. Gisela Cook

    Reply

  97. This is superbly written and you have my full support, Jenna Withey, Music Teacher, Primary and Secondary Teacher and Youth Worker.

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  98. Please add my name to the letter. Worked in education all my life as teacher, at the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and now as Trustee and Director of a school fund raising charity.

    Gove is a destructive force unmatched and certainly not challenged by Stephen Twigg (see my blog. “Time for the Shadow Secretary of State for Education to step out of the shadows” http://alanmills405.blogspot.com/2013/04/time-for-shadow-secretary-of-state-for.html?spref=tw )

    Pleased to be a part of this.

    Reply

    1. I’m pleased you’re a part of this – thank you for joining in. I read your blog and had hoped you’d be signing up. Keep up the pressure at your end. One fine day….we might get an opposition worth getting excited about. Or even a government!

      Reply

  99. Great article. You’ve already added me Debra; just wanted to know when I get my ‘Enemy of Promise’ T-shirt and mug?

    Keep up the good work in the face of Mr. Gove’s antagonistic and undemocratic, top-down approach. Although one fears he’ll never be interested in working alongside us, the next one might be better advised. I’m off to pray for a cabinet reshuffle…

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  100. Fab, I’m in full support. Add me to your growing list. F x
    Fiona Douglas-Reeves (Head of Media, Oldham Sixth Form College)

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  101. A fantastically written piece – I remember when I was a child (ok I’m 35 now) but teachers used to be looked up to and respected. When I was 11 I told my then Y6 teacher that I wanted to be a primary school teacher and even then he tried everything he could to change my mind. I often wonder what he would think of today’s educational system. I have to be honest and say I am no longer in teaching and will not return to primary school teaching. I am disgusted and thoroughly disillusioned by it all – from Gove to Ofsted to SATs. I love children, i love teaching them, I love that moment when they realise how a maths concept works for example and I love those moments when the classroom door is shut and you have those odd moments of ‘freedom’ – where you can talk to the children, where you can get to know them. It doesn’t happen often enough.I taught in Y2 – a fantastic age to teach – they’re just coming into their own. You need to make learning fun as they slowly begin to understand they are in education for a long time. There is a heck of a down side to teaching Y2 – the SATs – I refused to coach my children, I refused to inflate scores. Because I would not do this I did not make a very good Y2 teacher in some peoples eyes.
    I hope you are able to still add me to your list – you have my 100% support. My name is Sharon Wainscott. I was a Y2 classteacher, numeracy and literacy co-ordinator with a Masters degree in Autism and now doing my Doctorate in education.
    May I also take the time to say thankyou for writing such an indepth and coherent approach – you have my full support.

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Sharon for this impassioned response – what a shame you’re no longer teaching, but I know why! I’ll add your name to the list.

      Reply

  103. A brilliant, articulate and reasoned response Debbie, gets my support 100%. Hope the right people read and listen… Mark

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  104. Please could you add me Debbie? Secondary teacher currently working in an Academy.

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  105. Debbie, please add my name. Of course I wholeheartedly agree with your thinking . We need to do something. Will also pass on to my colleagues
    Nic X xxx
    Nicola Murray
    Director of teaching and learning : Dance
    The Fallibroome Academy

    Reply

  106. Kelly wade class teacher…. Please add my name you the letter, I couldn’t agree with your views more .

    Reply

  107. Roz Morton: English, Media and Sociology. Generally described as a teacher rather than an ‘enemy of promise’ by my students and colleagues.

    Reply

  108. An articulate response that captures the frustrations felt by many who work hard to educate young people. The government need to listen to those who are actually in the classroom. Add me to the list.
    Maria Beswick – Teacher of English and apparent enemy of promise.

    Reply

  109. Please add my name.
    I’m an English teacher in a secondary school in the North West. We converted to academy status in Oct 2012 for more autonomy, apparently…
    I’m looking to get out of teaching by the time I’m 35 (I’m 30 now). I’m currently on mat leave and will be going back 4days, supplementing my income by working for the exam boards.
    If I was in a position to, I’d hand my notice in tomorrow. It isn’t the job I thought it would be when on my PGCE and I’m sick of feeling inadequate. I know of several others in my school it feel exactly the same.

    Reply

  110. Thanks Debra and please add my name to the list. I have been a secondary teacher for the last 18 years and feel that this profession needs to be trusted much more.

    Reply

  111. Thank you for this clear rebuttal of these changes. Please add my name
    Neil Agutter
    Senior Teacher
    Pendarren House Outdoor Education Centre

    Reply

  112. I am on your side. I cannot believe in this day and age pupils need to know facts!! I totally loathe this concept of death by fact and cannot face a future in teaching like this! Teaching should be a journey and a surprise, it should make pupils come back for more. There is nothing worse than spoon feeding. We need to keep the creativity flame burning!

    Reply

    1. Hi Sarah – thanks for signing up! I think we do teach them facts, don’t we, just not ONLY facts. When we teach The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas, they need to know the facts of the war and the holocaust, but it’s the role play, discussion, empathy and skills they acquire that leads them to think that it must never happen again. Otherwise as Stalin said, one death is a tragedy, a million is a statistic. I worry that this government will turn learning into a set of mere statistics/facts. Great to hear from you btw!

      Reply

  113. Please add my name, Debra.
    We have an inspiring curriculum with engaged children, who are becoming independent learners. How can we return to just learning knowledge without skills? Very worrying.

    Year 6 teacher and Curriculum Development Leader, Primary

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    1. I know Clare – but we’ll just refuse won’t we? The idea that you can’t teach facts wrapped up in skills and in excitement, curiosity and play is a myth peddled by those whose own education was never playful.

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  114. I remember being so passionate about a job I had always longed to do when studying for my PGCE. I remember also, a tutor warning us not to become jaded and always remember why we entered the profession. I know at the time, I thought it would never happen – I would always be enthusiastic, hard working and love my job. I’m ashamed to admit the job has changed me into that jaded person I was warned about. I don’t want it to be this way and I don’t know what I would do instead that could give me the same buzz that teaching has done for so long. However the last couple of years have aged me. I’m only 31. I sometimes think I’d rather be stacking shelves in Tesco. If only you could buy enthusiasm refills for when Gove saps your stores….

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  116. Reception teacher and music coordinator. Something has to be done about this man!

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  118. Please add me and good luck for Monday. Janine Chapelle teacher of English VI Form College.

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  119. I’m not a teacher but my mum and fiancé are. As a trainee educational psychologist I work with all sorts of different teachers every week, often when they are reaching crisis point, and more often than not I see dedicated, hard working and empassioned people who, after years of training and daily hard graft, should be free to do what they do best… Teach! I hope I can be added in support. Frances Mills

    Reply

  120. As an NQT fresh out of my PGCE it has been hard seeing my mentors, colleagues and friends struggling to cope with the lack of trust largely given to us as educators. I am filled with hope for my future as a teacher seeing such proactive people as yourself rallying the opinions of so many unheard/ignored voices of experience. I feel invigorated for the next term!

    Philip Willis, secondary school, academy.

    Reply

  123. A great letter, Debra, and one I’ll gladly add my name to. There is a very strong feeling in schools I visit and amongst teachers I train that Michael Gove is not the man to lead education in this country. The profession in the past has been criticised for not being more forceful in its response to such dictat but the truth is that we all tend to forget it once we close the classroom door and are faced with pupils whose needs we want to meet. We simply get on with the job in the best way for our pupils, regardless of what’s happening and unfortunately this isn’t recognised as a strength of our profession, rather it seems to be seen as license to knock us about as policy makers see fit.
    Good luck with your mission!

    Reply

  124. Ok, I’m Mr Chips and many of these impositions won’t really affect me but we’re all in a profession aren’t we? We look after our own don’t we? This man is more dangerous than most could ever have imagined. He has no empathy, no remorse and no hesitation in doing his own thing. Fabulous piece, add my name.

    Reply

    1. Now is your name Head Verminator or Mr. Chips?! Could you please let me know, and the sector you work in and I’ll add one of your names 😉 – thanks!

      Reply

  125. I whole-heartedly agree. Facts are important but you need to be able to put them into context: WHY did these things happen, HOW have they affected things etc. I also think the curriculum draft is too prescriptive – surely good history is about being able to interpret sources, tell the story, understand perspective?
    Katy Street: Head of English, Secondary School

    Reply

  126. All of your views really resonate with me as a Year 5 teacher and Literacy coordinator. Please add me to your list.

    Reply

  128. Great letter please add me as a qualified state primary teacher here and Canada I’m sickened by governments treatment of the education sector.

    Reply

  129. Please can you add my name to your letter. I teach year 6 in a very deprived area of Lancashire and the children in our school have a strong love of learning enriched with a broad range of experiences. It would destroy everything we strive for day in and day out if Gove were to have his way. Thank you.
    Gill Wallace. Primary Maths Specialist Teacher

    Reply

  130. Could not agree more. Time to bring education back to the experts.

    Damian Mills. Deputy Head Teacher (Primary)

    Reply

  131. Thank you Debra for voicing the frustration felt by, I’m sure, the majority of the teachers in this country. Something needs to change and hopefully this will be the start of that change. Please add my name. Emma Prince Head of English – 6th Form College.

    Reply

  132. Hi Debra,

    I’m a NQT teaching at a state secondary. After only a short time in the teaching, I am already weary of the constant attacks to the profession as we’re an easy target to win votes for the politicians. Thankfully, once the classroom door is shut, I tend to forget about Mr. Goves’ ideologies and just get on with the teaching, only to return home to watch/read about how the education system is yet again, failing every parents child. I have to keep reminding myself as to why I got into teaching in the first place and gave up my (much better paid) private sector job. Thankfully, the students generally make it worthwhile and make me feel as though I’m making a difference.

    Please add my name to your list.

    Dennis Kwok. Secondary School Science Teacher.

    Reply

    1. Thanks Dennis – it’s done! I think you have the right idea – to try to remember that when those children are in front of you, you just do what you do best and ignore the vitriol out there. But it is hard.

      Reply

  139. Thank you for this well reasoned piece. Please add me as a signatory.
    Emma O’Kelly – Primary calss teacher

    Reply

  140. Hi! i’m studying to be teacher, i’m from Chile… recently I have lived the real conditions a chilean teacher experience every day. We, have 40 hours in our workload, so… you need to planify too much for achieve a class that work with high level thinking, but it worth it! Children value this and feel part of their class… just descontextualized facts doesn’t work: too mechanic and loveless. I want to join this cause!

    Reply

  141. Please add me too; I totally agree with all the sentiments you have written.
    Madeleine Court – Teacher of Economics and Business Studies, independent school.

    Reply

  143. Hi! i’m studying to be teacher, i’m from Chile… recently I have lived the real conditions a chilean teacher experience every day. We, have 40 hours in our workload, so… you need to planify too much for achieve a class that work with high level thinking, but it worth it! Children value this and feel part of their class… just descontextualized facts doesn’t work: too mechanic and loveless. I want to join this cause!

    Armin Sebastián Cano Fuica
    Student, Teacher
    Primary

    Reply

  144. Good luck with this. Please add me to the list. Patricia Oxlade – primary teacher

    Reply

  155. Sign me up! I truly fear for the education of my grandchildren and all their peers.
    Patricia Farmer (primary Assistant Head).

    Reply

    1. Thanks Chickengirl? I’m adding you as L Trussell – if that’s not right let me know and I’ll change it. Thanks for your support.

      Reply

  160. A voice of reason – superb! Please add me to the list.
    Shona Wolfenden
    Class Teacher Primary

    Reply

  162. Please add me as I agree totally- lets have a voice. Jackie Lucraft Director of Teaching and Learning

    Reply

  166. Please add me to this valuable comment on our education provision.
    Pamela Rook ( teacher state primary)

    Reply

  167. I completely agree with you. Please add me to the list. Carson Elday – State Primary Special School teacher.

    Reply

    1. I’m in the Catholic Sector btw, I think the term if ‘voluntarily aided’ or something if that’s relevant

      Reply

  173. Thanks for writing this. Please add my name to the signatories. Andrew M Lindley, Primary Music Teacher, State School

    Reply

  174. Keith Smith
    Head of DT/Engineering
    Secondary Academy

    Agree with everything you have written. We need an education minister who listens and preferably has a teaching qualification.

    Reply

  175. I agree completely with this article. Gove doesn’t realise that education needs to change to meet the changing world that we live in – to start off with knowledge is at our fingertips! We need to teach children how to use knowledge and how to think. To me, his changes seem to more in line with Victorian education rather than education to meet the needs of 21st century.

    Reply

  178. Sue Mosedale Teaching assistant -State Primary- Foundation stage

    Please add my name to the list

    Reply

  180. I’m totally with you on this- please add my name to the list.
    Gorana Henry- Teacher-Primary

    Reply

  183. Please add me as I quite agree with everything you have said.
    Jane Lovis
    Assistant Headteacher
    Pupil referral unit

    Reply

  186. I am totally in support of this letter. Gove’s education policy is killing education in this country and he has barely begun. Really trying to remove speaking and listening from languages and teaching biblical Hebrew. Is this man real? The subject changes in primary and secondary curricula in other areas are even more detrimental than to my own subject.

    Rob Illingworth – Secondary Middle Leader – MFL

    Reply

  189. Please add me to the list

    Reintegration co-ordinator education support centre primary and secondary

    Reply

  195. I am in full agreement

    Alison Smith KS5 English Coordinator and Professional Mentor – Secondary

    Reply

  196. Hi
    Please can you add me:
    Helena Butterfield, Head of MFL, Voluntary Aided Secondary.
    Thank you

    Reply

  198. I want to add my name, such as it is, to show that I do fear what is happening; but I have read the above now several times over and I am still not sure I am clear on what points it is arguing for or against. Nor can I find a “letter” above – who is it addressed to? Me? Mr Gove? I feel confused by it myself.

    For example, what is the long paragraph on “oracy” saying? Gove is surely in support of oracy, hence the push towards so-called “dialogic” and “Socratic” teaching methods. And, whether we like Gove or not, he surely does not “behave like a child”; indeed, he is unquestionably intelligent, well educated and well informed, whether we agree with his views or not.

    Many people rightly question some of what educationist academics propose, too; and Marxism is most alive still in academic areas. I think that’s a good thing, but I can understand Give not agreeing; it is a point of view. In terms of trusting academic research, one only has to consider the recent years of being forced to deal in the classroom with children’s “multiple intelligences” to understand why.

    This is all so complex and difficult to get to grips with. I find the above adds to my confusion. I must be missing something. Certainly any proposed changed is not going to be helped by the long history of wrong decisions – and the difficulty of carrying out worthwhile research. The teaching of “ITA” in the 60s perhaps began it, and not everyone today finds success with phonic methods.

    Let’s hope the “message” being given to Mr Gove, whatever it is, causes him at least to review his stance and to consider fully where he wants to go and how he feels it is best to get there.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for this Steve – it has made me read in a new light and perhaps I need to amend some sections. Certainly, if it confuses, this is not good. Firstly, it will take the form of a letter when it is sent out, but for the moment, this is the body of the text. As far as oracy goes, Mr. Gove’s proposals for the primary curriculum have almost entirely removed speaking and listening. Drama has been removed. All speaking and listening components of the GCSE are to be removed. The push for dialogic and socratic teaching, so passionately argued for by the Cambridge review has been ignored. If I have missed any of the speeches where Mr. Gove has argued for dialogic or socratic pedagogies, please let me know. I cannot find them.

      As far as I know, Howard Gardner, the proponent of multiple intelligences is not a Marxist. He has, however, voiced concerns, many times, of the way his theory (which after all was simply that we learn in different, multi-modal ways, and that some of these ways are more well developed than others) have been misappropriated and misrepresented by educational consultants. Here I fully support what you are saying. You might be interested in Gosawami’s work on breaking down neuro-myths.

      ITA – yes I remember that one too – my Dad made me rewrite all the words down at home properly after school! What a fiasco that was. But it doesn’t make right what is happening here.

      Anyway – thanks again, I’ll look at the text again tomorrow and see if I can clarify further. I appreciate your advice.

      Reply

  202. Very well written. I completely agree. I just find his policies deeply depressing and think they will let down the children we teach. Please add my name. Hannah Lloyd Year 6 State Primary

    Reply

  204. Hi
    Please also add me:
    Liz Gallagher-Coates, Teacher of English and Psychology; Independent Secondary.

    Reply

    2. please can you add me too?
      Helen Drake, Year 3 primary teacher, KS1 and EYFS Leader and SENCo
      Thankyou

      Reply

        1. Add me too please and thank you for putting so much time into this :))
          Pat Butler, English Teacher, Secondary Academy

        2. Please add me to the list. Thank you for organising this. We all live in hope that Mr Gove will listen to the professionals before lasting damage is done to our childrens’ education.

          Jackie Berry, MFL teacher, State Primary

        4. Please add my name

          Francesca Rutherford Early years Advisory teacher

        5. Teacher and former assessment coordinator, state primary.

        6. Please add my name, thanks
          Gina Williams, Literacy Co-ordinator, Primary

        7. Please add my name, thanks

          Aaron Hui, Maths teacher, Secondary Academy

  225. Hi Debbie

    Great stuff – add me.
    John Rainer. Manager and PGCE Drama co-ordinator, HE.

    and add Joy (Sherlock), Drama Teacher – state secondary.

    Reply

  229. I also agree with your letter. Well written, thank you for taking the initiative.
    Dr James Turner, Literacy Coordinator, Primary

    Reply

  230. I’d like to be added please:
    Emily Thurbon, Assistant Headteacher, State primary.
    Thank you

    Reply

  232. Please add my name too: Dr Joana Soliva, English teacher and examiner at GCSE and A level.

    Reply

  233. Hi please add me RE and Spanish teacher in special needs school Multicultural coordinator.

    Reply

  235. Please add me too. Whole heartedly agree.
    Corrinne Howell – science coordinator, secondary Special Educational Needs School

    Reply

  236. Please add my name to the signatories:
    Heather Birtwistle, Lead Teacher of Science, Secondary

    Reply

  244. Teacher of History 20 years
    Agree with everything that has been said. Please add my name.

    Reply

  246. Please add my name. A wholly content based curriculum will stretch teachers to their limits, making learning less exciting and less meaningful to the children. Please add my name.

    Reply

    1. Sorry Debbie I forgot to say that I am an AST for creativity and teaching and Learning for Wakefield LEA.

      Reply

  248. Please could you add me? I’m a deputy head in a secondary academy.
    Thanks and well written!

    Reply

  251. This may be the second time I have asked you to add me but didn’t see my name:

    Andy Lutwyche, Secondary Math teacher, parent

    Reply

  253. add me John Wadsworth, Senior Lecturer in Education (Early Childhood), former Headteacher, School governor, parent
    I was one of the original 100 “Marxists”

    Reply

  263. He nearly completely devalued my subject and my passion, please add my name.

    Art teacher, Academy School.

    Reply

  264. Debra, well written and convincingly argued. I would go further and would ask you to do likewise at http://www.ordinaryvoices.org.uk
    The madness that education is becoming has to end. Please add my name: retired primary head, ex-Ofsetd inspector and serving governor with a passion for teaching philosophy to children.

    Reply

  271. Please add me to the list of signatories
    Teacher primary state
    Governor secondary academy

    Reply

  272. Andy Bear state primary in Essex. Please include my name. Academics selected by Gove seem to cover a narrow spectrum of opinion.

    Reply

  275. You can add me. Cath Heery – primary teacher.

    Thanks for writing about this. Creativity is a thing of the past. All about filling APP grids and setting silly targets!

    C

    Reply

  277. Very well written please add my name to the list of signatories.
    Julia Morgans Every Child Counts Teacher Leader, Derbyshire

    Reply

  280. Key Stage 2 teacher. Lets put a stop to these changes before they put a stop to a valuable, meaningful education system for our children.

    Reply

  282. Previously, teacher in state primary, currently chair of governors in a state infant school. What a brilliant letter. Thank you for representing us in such an intelligent way. Please make sure I am added.

    Reply

  295. Mark Wheeller: Drama Teacher – Secondary & Playwright

    Please do whatever you need to add me to this list. It is a wonderfully written letter. I agree totally.

    Reply

  303. Excellent summary! Please add me to the list. Dr Rodger Caseby, Vice Principal, Secondary Academy.

    Reply

  307. 1st Year Associate Teacher, Primary, Maths specialism.

    Mature student, father (expecting 2nd son), determined not to become disillusioned, or disgusted, by the attitude of Gove.

    Reply

    1. Why would it not be appropriate to put up the name of someone who taught me how to teach at those NATD conferences all those years ago? Am honoured to put your name up there.

      Reply

  312. Please add my name in support of this letter. Thank you.
    Martin Galway, year 6 teacher/Senior Manager (State primary) and leading teacher.
    Hertfordshire.

    Reply

  318. Dear Debra

    Please add my name: Guy Williams; Director of Performing Arts; Secondary (also Editorial Committee Member for The NATD Journal if you think that is useful to add)

    Love

    Guy

    Reply

  332. Beautifully put. What I also find infuriating is the breakneck pace of many of his ‘reforms’ so that we often find ourselves preparing students for 1 assessment structure, then to another midway through a course- and then finally have to admit bewilderment to students and parents regarding this.
    I can only think this is being done to further undermine people’s perception of teachers as professionals.

    *Please* add me:
    Andy Molloy, Science Curriculum Team Leader, Secondary

    Reply

  341. Please add my name to your list Debra, and thank you for organising this. Best wishes, Jan Marshall, SENCO and class teacher, primary

    Reply

  343. Please add my name Debra. Neil Scanlan, former local authority adviser responsible for assessment, now a secondary school governor and a governor trainer.

    Reply

  346. Miriam Mendez Lovelace
    Primary school teacher – London –
    Please add my name

    Reply

  348. Please add me to the list,
    Thomasina Watts-Robinson, Head of Department Science, Secondary

    Reply

  350. Well done Debra – building learning power/ skills and attitudes, alongside knowledge is what is vital. Please add my name. Carolyn Frea, Literacy support teacher.

    Reply

  356. Agree. Just as Thatcher was on a mission to destroy the mining industry in the eighties, so is Gove on a mission to destroy the state education system and the teaching profession. It will do our children no good. What guarantee have we that a subsequent government would not carry on these policies?

    Reply

  362. Think you may have missed me!
    Brilliant letter!
    Julie Lee-Ranson
    Primary teacher SMT Governor

    Thanks

    Reply

    1. Hi Julie – you should be up now. Sorry – I think I’m having some freezing problems with weight of traffic. Or living in the sticks – one or the other! Thanks for your support.

      Reply

  363. Please add me Ruth Golding Head of School – Secondary

    I am deeply saddened by the education system I love being destroyed by a person whose ideology does not support 21st Century teaching and learning. Michael Gove needs to listen to teachers in the comprehensive system.

    Reply

  365. Leon Reed
    Teaching Assistant, Primary.
    Please add my name to the list, before Gove gets rid of me!
    Leon

    Reply

  366. Am I allowed to sign? I’m not a teacher (though I was once, long ago) but I’m a children’s writer of novels and non-fiction and the author of “Blame My Brain – The Amazing Teenage Brain Revealed” and “Know Your Brain”, so I’m hugely interested in education and learning development. I also used to specialise in teaching children with dyslexia.

    Reply

  373. Please add me: Stephen Shieber, Head of Religious Studies and Philosophy, Independent Senior.

    Reply

  375. Thank you for writing such a good well-reasoned letter.
    Please add my name to the list.
    David Beddow – AST secondary state

    Reply

  378. Please add me
    Nikki Gabb
    Teacher of English, Former HoD Secondary, currently Independent sector but steadfast supporter of State with experience of International too. Gove makes me want to cry, but the relentless and manipulative persecution of the profession by the media makes me even sadder. They are the enemies of promise.

    Reply

  384. Anne O’Connor
    Early Years consultant, trainer and writer.

    Please add me to the list and Good Luck!

    Reply
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  387. Please add me to the list of signatories
    Heidi Lauder
    Primary teacher
    State school
    Thanks!

    Reply

  389. Please add me:

    Rebecca Bradley
    Key Stage 3 Co-ordinator, English
    State Secondary, Brighton and Hove

    Reply

  395. Hi Debbie,
    I can’t see my name on the list yet.
    Anything else I need to do?
    Thank you!
    Fatima

    Reply

  397. Please add me:
    Teacher:
    LA Behaviour Support Service
    LA Coordinator for Elective Home Education

    Gove apparently wants “all children to be above average”…..a distinctly below average comment!

    Reply

  399. Please add me. Your comments are absolutely spot on.
    Fred Greaves, Division Secretary, Surrey N.U.T.

    Reply

  404. Please add me to the list: Patricia Grist teacher Primary former advisor for the International Education Agency of Papua New Guinea

    Reply

  421. Please add my name to the list. I am increasingly concerned by what is happening and the impact upon the pupils in my care. My role is as a Teacher Therapist – outreach — state, primary and secondary phases.

    Reply

  424. Excellent letter, Debra,really clear.Teachers’ professional knowledge has been under attack for some time.and It is shocking how little Gove really seems to understand what he is talking about. Feel angry and frightened in equal measure.
    Please add me –
    Ruth Fishman ,English Teacher, Inner London FE college

    Reply

  430. What a well argued and so welcome letter – thank you Please add me
    Ingrid Spencer, Education lecturer at university of Leicester and academic lead for Primary TeachFirst course; taught for 10 years in state secondary school

    Reply

  431. I picked up your letter from a FB freind and wholeheartedly agree with its sentiments – I am however not a teacher but a mature PG student in my final term and I do wonder what I have spent my year learning about when Gove will simply revert to ‘old school’ and rote learning…..I have found my course utterly inspiring, and my teaching practice has shown me how child-initiated learning and encouraging them to think critically about their work and ideas and those of their classmates is an invaluable skill in the classroom and also for lifelong learning. I know only too well how important such skills are having spent 20 years in commerce before changing to teaching. So you may want to open up your letter to PG students as well as teachers……..I will share. Good luck with it – Give’s used to u-turns so hopefully will be second nature to him now!!

    Reply

  432. Please add me to the list. Course Leader for Music and Performance Studies at Oldham 6th Form, examiner for AQA.

    Reply

  439. Vicki Merrick head of dept in a secondary school for thirty years and concerned grand-parent. Gove is destroying all the progress made in the last 20 years. I despair. Please add my name.

    Reply

  445. Rote learning of facts because facts are easier to test.
    Please add me to your list.
    Ron Jenkins retired science teacher secondary

    Reply
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  450. Brilliantly written letter.
    Please add me to your list :
    Jane Bettles, Year 4 teacher, Primary state

    Reply

  453. There was a brief moment a few years ago when I felt the education system might have been moving in a more creative direction. Alas Gove seems to have snuffed that ‘hope’ out & appears more like Gradgrind from Dickens’ Hard Times. Add me to the list please. Dan Price – Primary school teacher.

    Reply

  458. Please add my name to the list of signatories

    Sue Ellis
    Teacher in a special school for children with autism

    Reply

  460. Learning works when we understand where students are coming from and shape experiences to enable them to develop their skills and their knowledge. When we create or introduce contexts in which students are challenged to extend their conceptual grasp of the world. Gove offers only one context for this learning as though he believes education is about the replication of a status quo delineated by the limits of his own personal experiences of education and his own concept of cultural canon. He needs to listen and to learn and to stop this skewed view of curriculum causing the damage which it threatens to children’s experiences of school.

    Reply

  461. Please add me to your list
    Anna Daly. Creative practitioner and Early Years trainer.
    EYFS and Primary.

    Reply

  462. Why anyone would want to go into teaching now is beyond me! It’s so sad please add my name

    Sarah Mann
    Director of Performing Arts
    Secondary, Academy

    Reply

  464. Please add my name to the list
    Thank you
    Christina Skarbek – Senior lecturer in Education

    Reply

  467. Oops. Didnt put my job title when I left that comment. If it helps. I am a Head of English at a Secondary school.

    Reply

  475. Wonderful letter. Please add me to the list. Chrissy Attenborough. English Teacher, Secondary.

    Reply

  476. Hilary Cremin – (One of the 100)
    Thanks you so very much to all of the admirable teachers who have signed up here. It means such a lot to me that we stand together. I will continue to fight for a just and transformative education system grounded in the expertise and wisdom of teachers for as long as there is breath in my body!

    Reply

  478. Debra, Please add me: Alan Darley MA, Teacher of Religious Education and Philosophy, Nottingham

    Reply

  490. Excellent letter – good to see a positive response to the ideology of despair. I hope it starts to make a difference.
    Chris Brooksbank – Headteacher – Primary

    Reply

  499. I agree with your letter.
    Please add me as a signatory.
    Head Teacher,
    Primary, State School.

    Reply

  501. Thanks for this. Please add my name if you are adding trainee teachers.

    Sarah Coles trainee primary teacher

    Reply

  503. Dr Christopher Denny
    Associate Tutor, University and former SEN teacher and LA adviser.

    Please add my name

    Reply

  512. Please add me to the list
    Olivia Whatcott – Early Years Professional & Primary Teacher – Foundation Stage

    Reply

  527. Please add my name. Helen Hunter, Teacher in Independent Preparatory School and creative educational practitioner in a variety of state primary schools.

    Reply

  530. Please add me to the list. Caroline Small – Former Drama and Engish teacher (secondary; writer and artist in education (all sectors)

    Reply
  533. Glynn Kirkham Independent Educational Consultant, former teacher, headteacher, inspector, university teacher says:

    Arrogance is normally based on ignorance and if unchanged the Gove approach based on his arrogance and ignorance will lead to mass ignorance. But remember, who teaches the curriculum. Teachers are not programmed robots and subversion comes in many forms. Inspectors are not so blind as to ignore effective teaching and the development of critical skills. One cannot legislate for obedience unless the heart of the teachers is broken. Thatcherite approaches to opposition have died with the lady.

    Reply

  539. Please add me: Dr Kate McKenzie, Gender and Education Executive, school governor and educationalist

    Reply

  546. Please add me to your list: Lynda Houghton, Senior Lecturer in Primary ITT, Creative Subjects, PE and English specialisms, HE.

    Reply

  558. Add me to the list please.

    Justine Mercer (Associate Professor, University of Warwick, HE).

    Reply

  563. I am in – another dissenting academic!

    Reply

  569. Please add me to petition.
    Kathrine Nutting
    Acting Head Teacher. Bradford.
    (Early years specialist)

    Reply

  574. Please could you add me to the list?
    I am a Secondary English NQT and could not agree more. Thank you for putting my thoughts into a well crafted piece of writing!

    Reply

  584. Please add me!
    Sophie Cairns
    Yr 1/2 class teacher and parent of two primary aged sons.

    Reply

  592. Please add me. I was a Primary teacher for 9 years and now work for the NUT to support teachers.

    Reply

  598. Please add my name. Early Years Advisory Teacher and Children’s Centre Qualified Teacher.

    Reply

  610. Hello Debra, thank you for adding me. I am listed as a year 6 head teacher. I am a year 6 teacher / lead teacher.

    Reply

      1. Sorry for delayed response. Number 375. Thank you so much for devoting your time to this.

        Reply

  612. Hi Debra, what have you started! Just to say, you’ve added me as a teacher, which I am, but my main job’s headteacher and LLE (Local Leader of Education). Just to add as much weight and depth as possible. kind regards Mark

    Reply

  618. Great to be able to be part of a movement that voices opposition to Gove’s notion that the curriculum should be based on the acquisition of facts.

    Reply

  629. Please add my name – Dr Hazel Howat, Numbers Count teacher in primary (PhD in Maths education).

    Reply

  630. Jan Hewett –Now Retired
    Just don’t get me started. I began teaching in 1967 and resigned in 2002, not wishing to fall ill again. I take my hat off to those working now under the continuing and constant assault from government.

    Reply

  636. Excellent letter Debbie. Please add my name.
    Andy Jones
    MMU, Pro-Vice-Chancellor
    Dean Faculty of Education

    Reply

  643. Former Head of History in state secondary
    Now part-time Politics teacher in sixth form college

    Reply

  644. Please add me:
    Jeremy Taylor
    Head of History & Politics
    Preston Manor School
    Wembley
    (Secondary teacher in Brent)

    Reply

  654. Happy to be added. Have you seen Michael Rosen’s open letter in the Guardian regarding Gove’s performance on Question Time?

    Reply

  659. Without a skills-based curriculum our children will be forced to play catch-up to others. Knowledge is important but children will not be motivated to acquire it if the content seems irrelevant.

    Reply
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  669. KS4 leader of creative arts (drama teacher) secondary school. Please add my name to the list.

    Reply

  671. Jane Anderson-Brown, Music Teacher, Peripatetic Music Teacher, Freelance Musician & former Music Adviser, Inspector and Teaching Mentor

    Reply

  682. Thank you for organising this letter. Please add me.
    Sue pilkingtion, assistant headteacher, primary

    Reply

  684. You need to start listening to re teachers. We care about our pupils and work very hard to give them the best education possible. Teaching is not just a job to us.

    Reply

  686. And me Judy Hatton. Retired teacher. English and Communication Studies @ VI form College

    Reply

  690. Please would you add me:
    Helen Wiles, Music Specialist teacher & NUT rep, State Primary

    Reply

  695. So true – why does Mr Gove think he knows better than the experience within the teaching profession??

    Reply

  707. Please add my name
    Brian Batson retired Principal University Lectuer and former secondary school teacher.

    This Government that minority have voted for are peddle myths to support policies. Research and facts are derided if they don’t fit the ideology.

    Reply

  708. Please add my name

    Malcolm Groves
    Governor, secondary state, former OFSTED inspector

    Reply

  715. Please add me too
    Janet Mansfield
    (Chair of Governors, Secondary School and Early Years supply teacher)

    Reply

  716. Please add me. Donna Burton-Wilcock, head of English, St George’s International School, Rome (from Sept 2013)

    Reply

  723. Janet Wilde – former Primary Headteacher, currently School Counsellor
    Please add me to the list.

    Reply

  724. Please can you add my name?
    Amanda Smith. Head of Sixth Form. Secondary Grammar School.

    Reply

  737. Please add me to this list. The man is absurd and a threat to the children of this country.

    Reply

  744. Ros Miller Year 6 teacher State primary, and maths co-ordinator (and maths specialist teacher). Have studied in most detail, and am particularly concerned about, the ks 2 maths draft.

    Reply

  746. Please add me to this list. The man is absurd and a threat to the children of this country.

    Infant teacher and parent

    Reply

  747. Why demonise the professionals you are meant to be leading. Gove clearly doesn’t know what he is doing or how hard our profession is. He should go, too many mistakes.

    Reply

  756. Sharon Humphreys
    Primary teacher, currently delivering Transition Reading Project in Swansea

    Reply

  757. Please add me.
    Maria McCarthy, Assistant Headteacher, Head of Geography. Secondary state.

    Reply

  770. Please add me.
    Laurie Mansfield, Senior examiner in Physics, retired Head of Sixth

    Reply

  776. Please add me!

    James Hanson – Assistant Head of Performing Arts – Winstanley College – Wigan
    You’ve never taught a class in your life – Mr. Gove you don’t know what you’re talking about!

    Reply

  778. please add me

    Malcolm Jennings, Actor with an Educational Theatre Company, mainly but not exclusively Primary

    Reply

  780. Very well written letter. Please add me to the list :
    Emma Willing
    Primary teacher and MaST

    Reply

  789. Margaret Harrison
    Please add me too, state school primary teacher, studying to be a specialist maths teacher for primary schools.

    Reply

  790. Please add me, too….
    Cathie Lacey – teacher educator for the post compulsory sector (university-based)

    Reply

  792. Add me please – fantastic response, well done you!

    Helen Shaw, Primary School Teacher, Local Authority

    Reply

  802. Please add me to the list
    Sarah Berke year 3 Primary School teacher and parent governor at secondary school

    Reply

    1. please add me Jacqui Southern, secondary school teacher for pupils with severe learning disabilities.

      Reply

  807. Please add my name. Retired Deputy Head secondary and ex Head Science. Excellent letter. Thank you.

    Reply

  812. Please add my name

    Janine Stones Primary school teacher, Key Stage 1 and Early Years Leader.

    Reply

  815. I fully agree with your comments and would like you to add my name to your petition
    Robert Cavender
    English teacher, state Secondary.

    Reply

  819. Please add my name:

    Stephanie Thompson, History teacher, secondary state school.

    Reply

  830. Claire Penketh – Lecturer
    Centre for Culture and Disability Studies
    Liverpool Hope University

    Reply

  832. Giving my support, please add me on too.
    Lucy Kennedy, Year 2 Primary Teacher and Staff Governor.

    Reply

  840. Please add my name:
    Tracy Harman, Tutor/Assessor, Adult & Community Learning including Adults with Learning Difficulties & Disabilities
    Many thanks.

    Reply

  847. Please add me to the list! Mr D here from the music site Mr A, Mr C and Mr D Present. I fully agree with all which is said here and have expressed this within my own school, to the DFE itself and more broadly online. It really seems nobody is listening. 🙁

    Reply

  852. Please add me. Alison Douthwaite, English Teacher, Secondary
    Thank you and well done for organising this!

    Reply

  855. Add me too please!
    Celina Goodfellow, PGCE student, Early Years Specialism

    Thank you!

    Reply

  859. Please add me Lucy Johnson Media Studies teacher of ten years, currently without post due to disgust at the government and trends in education.

    Reply

  861. I fully support your initiative and the objections you raise to Michael Gove’s unsupportable assertions. Good luck with your meeting. I am a senior lecturer in mathematics education at Sheffield Hallam University.

    Reply

  866. I’ve already added my name…don’t stop at 1000…keep going – your letter is popping up everywhere from all quarters, this could get really big! Keep going and thank you for taking the time to stand up and be counted!

    Reply

    1. I’ll do my best Amanda, but I’ll need help – I can’t write every name on the list now – I need to get on with my marking:) I’ll investigate how we can maybe set up an automatic sign up. Imagine what it’ll be like next week when 70% of the country come back from their Easter hols!

      Reply

      1. Hi Debra, I’m already on (384!) – its really taken off and must be a huge task. Perhaps a group or organisation could help you TES? Guardian Education?

        Reply

        1. It is. I need a bigger boat! Couldn’t bear to stop at 1000 and ignore people. Will look into it tomorrow. All suggestions welcome!

  867. Please add me:

    John Barnes, Key Stage 1 Teacher, Maths and Literacy Co-ordinator, East Sussex

    Reply

  876. Please add me to the list ! Sue Eagle Retired Headteacher State Primary / Primary Consultant

    Reply

  889. Having two grandchildren being educated in the USA, where the emphasis is very much on the acquisition of facts, and who are constantly being tested, graded and labelled, I have huge misgivings about Gove’s policies and the direction in which British education is headed. Please add me to the list.
    Lynne Copley, Associate Headteacher of a state secondary school (retired)

    Reply
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  895. Debra, this is an excellent cause. Although I agree there is a place for memorising and recall within the curriculum, I wholeheartedly disagree that the opposing academics are a ‘blob of Marxists’ (to paraphrase!).

    Good luck in your meeting.

    Ruth Magee, MFL teacher, Secondary academy

    Reply

  901. Please add my name to the list. I teach MFL in the private sector. Thanks. Michael Tracey

    Reply

  902. Hiya – you have already added me. I have just seen your comment about you being unable to keep adding to the list due to marking etc. I don’t work at the moment so if I can lend a hand in any way just drop me an email.
    Best wishes
    Sharon

    Reply

    1. I wholeheartedly support the sentiments in this letter.
      Helen Yorke Primary School Governor

      Reply

  908. add me too – Baron Miles – Director of Careers, Budmouth College.

    We must all want our students to fail… sigh. Or it’s just yet another manipulative and cynical way to drive schools into Academy status.

    Reply

  915. Please add me – Ben A Harvey, trained for early years in the ’80s and resigned over LMS; refused to teach the National Curriculum.

    Reply

  917. Please add me to the list.
    Vicki Stokes. Lecturer in Initial Teacher Training (Primary) since January. Experienced Primary Teacher for 16 years!

    Reply

  918. Please add me: Helen Barkworth-Knight, MFL teacher, British overseas Primary and Secondary schools. Thank you all for your work on and around this very intelligently and rationally written letter. You are doing a real service to our profession.

    Reply

  920. Please add my name: Julie Chase, mum, former special school and pupil referral unit teacher, now educational psychologist, long time trade unionist and community activist.

    Reply

  923. Please add me. I share your concerns.

    Rhiannon Scutt, Geography Teacher, Secondary, State.

    Reply

  928. Our profession has been quite too long – lets speak out for the sake of those we serve.

    Reply

  935. Please add me too. Nicola Padley, FS leader and nursery teacher, state Primary school.

    Reply

  943. Add me – Adrian Johnson NQT with a lot of respect for my University Post Grad course in Birmingham and no idea how any University training course would thrive without obvious links to real schools and staff – which mine had in spades!

    Reply

  945. Please include me – Robin Ball (ex-teacher, ex-Becta, current Head of Product & Content, EducationCity)

    Reply

  946. Please add me to ther list: Dave Jones, Senior Lecturer in Science Education, Teacher for 23 years.

    Reply

  948. Please add me
    Sandra Howard: ex teacher, policy advisor for G&T currently consultant for Excellence East

    Reply

  957. Thank you for so eloquently stating how most teachers feel.
    Carol Jepson
    University Link Tutor

    Reply

  959. Please add me to the list and thank you for such an eloquent and well explained letter. Rita Hicklin, Assistant Director of Learning, Secondary Academy

    Reply

  962. Happy to be included
    Christine Jones
    MFL teacher / would-be ‘academic’
    30 years experience in education

    Reply

  964. Thank you and please add my name to your ever-growing list
    Tricia Le Gallais, Teacher trainer and researcher, Higher Education

    Reply

  971. Please add me to the list – Helen Mahoney, Teacher of English – Secondary (state)

    Reply

  978. Progress is about moving forward Mr Gove not backwards.

    Add me: Terence Bevington, Specialist Teacher

    Reply

  983. Please add me too – Kay Thompson, Teacher in Special Education and Secondary School Governor.

    Reply

  987. Wholeheartedly agree with this excellent analysis.
    Deborah Fones, Head of English, state catholic comprehensive school

    Reply

  996. Please add me – Jennifer Hopwood, Secondary English PGCE student, The University of Birmingham.

    Reply

  1003. thanks for doing this. Great to read such a well presented opposition to Gove’s ideas. Please add me!

    Reply

  1008. Please add me to the list. I am a retired teacher and fully support the points made in the letter.

    Reply

  1011. I’m an ex-teacher, ex-School Governor and parent representative on my local secondary academy Forum. Please add me to this list.

    Reply

  1017. Thank you for taking the time to put this together and for sharing it with others.
    Claire Sewell – lecturer at Sunderland University

    Reply

  1020. The curriculum that we have fought hard to take control of over the last few years is in danger of being completely destroyed with the latest proposals. Education needs taking out of the poitical arena. Pleas add me.
    Paul Gabriel, Primary Headteacher and LLE

    Reply

  1021. Please add me. Rachel Stone, Teacher of Functional Mathematics and Family Learning (Adult and Community Education), Lecturer in Education (HE)

    Reply

  1022. Please add me: Lia Border B’Ed PG Dip SpLD, AMBDA; Specialist teacher and Assessor for learners with dyslexia/SpLD

    Reply

  1024. Happy to sign up for this, and while I agree with the general sentiment, I need to highlight a concern with your statement; “The education of our young is too important to leave to opinion and ideology. It requires evidence and thought”. Firstly, education should be a lifelong aspiration and should be freely available to all at the point of entry, this includes the much maligned and mainly forgotten adult sector. Secondly, and more importantly, are the notions of opinion and ideology or in reality, non-opinion and non-ideology. People need to be clearer and less afraid of stating their beliefs, it is disingenuous to state that ideology is a problem, when we really mean “their” ideology is problematic, as opposed to “my” ideology is (we do this to protect us from being attacked as an ideologue; in truth we are all ideologues, even and especially those who believe they are ideology free) because the exploration of ideology is fruitful opinion, based on another ideology. Thirdly, “evidence” and “thought” are not ideology free axioms, they are ideological propositions. Evidence is not enough if its foundation is empirically\inductively based evidence, if this was the case, every morning I could watch the sun rise, follow its trajectory across the sky and based on this “evidence” surmise that the sun goes around the Earth. These are the “thought” processes that Gove uses, fallacious arguments that can be “proven” by experience or “common sense”. Don’t fall into Gove’s trap by using the same language and complacent philosophical constructs with which to make your case, even Hayek was honest enough to explain why he wasn’t a conservative. If you are a Marxist say so, people then may be able to discern that the Left isn’t dead, and their ideas are worth following, ditto if you are a liberal or a conservative.

    Reply

    1. You are right, of course Trace and I’m so happy to see adult educators signing this letter to. I think what I’m trying to say is that if we are activists, the issue binding us together here is pedagogy. You can be a Marxist and a Pedagogical Activist, but you can also be a capitalist, catholic, buddhist, leninist…..and still be united in a commitment to pedagogy rooted in evidence. Thank you for your support. I have long admired your school.

      Reply

      1. Thanks for taking the time to respond Debra you must be very busy and there is no need to respond to this. I was actually challenging the role of evidence, as a philosophical dead-end if it is based on empiricism.

        Reply

  1025. Please talk to teachers in real jobs get their advice too!. Your experts are rebelling against you, call it a day Mr Gove. The profession you represent are now no longer confident in your position.

    TA KS3.

    Reply

  1030. Please add me if you still have the time and energy! I am a dance educator working in schools (at all key stages) providing creative learning through movement. Thank you. Debi Hedderwick, Dance Artist and Educator, Learning Through Arts

    Reply

  1038. Thank you for arranging this.
    Please add me. Andrew Dickinson Head of Faculty at State Upper School

    Reply

  1041. Add me too. Children need encouragement not bludgeoning.

    Margaret McNally primary teacher, mother, grandmother and

    Reply

  1052. Agreed
    Add me too
    Martin Smith: Class Teacher and Lower School Leader – A Norfolk Junior School.

    Reply

  1053. please add me to the list, Pascale Lariven, French and TOK teacher, International school

    Reply

  1057. Please add me
    Dr Neil Burton, teacher (primary & secondary), HE tutor, educational consultant

    Reply

  1059. The policies of M Gove hastened my departure from the teaching profession. The man has neither the trust nor confidence of the majority of educators so how can he remain in post himself?
    Alan Green, retired teacher.

    Reply

  1060. Thank you for putting your time and energy into this – Let’s hope someone listens!
    Tracey Coulter, Primary teacher, state

    Reply

  1075. Thank you for your detailed response. I’ve written to Mr Gove about his knee-jerk and unhelpful response. We have to continue the argument. Primary School chair of governors

    Reply

  1076. Hi please add me:

    Mr Manjinder Bhandal
    Teacher of ICT i/c KS4, KS5 & Virtual Learning, Secondary

    Reply

  1090. Being Made redundant in August 2013 as Head of Drama post no longer required. The fact that the E Bac was dismissed has still had its effect!! No Key stage 3 drama will run anymore. Disgusting!!!!!! I hope you make him sit up and listen! Add me to your list and Good Luck!

    Reply

  1095. So glad the teaching profession is standing up for the right of all children to a good education!

    Reply

  1099. Please add me to the list
    Carolyn Swain School governor, retired teacher and curriculum adviser

    Reply

  1101. Please add me: Elizabeth Bentley, School Librarian, State Secondary School

    Reply

  1107. Please add me to the list in support of this: John McCourt Deputy Head Teacher (Teaching and Learning) State Secondary School.

    Reply

  1112. Happy to endorse this accurate and concise critique of how Gove is destroying education.
    Jon Denny, English Teacher

    Reply

  1113. Thank you for putting the argument so well.
    Please add my name to the list.
    Gisela Roberts, Primary Teacher, Year 3

    Reply

  1119. The academics who sent a letter to the Torygraph punted out the same vacuous claptrap that passes for educational theory. You don’t get thinking skills without having something to think about. I was an LCC educated boy in the fifties and sixties and I look at my English textbooks of the time and weep at what we’ve lost. I still teach English despite being old -although I teach at a College – and mostly to adults. This country stopped teaching English twenty years ago and now the current teachers have no idea of what it used to be. We had a properly written textbook with masses of material and exercises – and the teacher could supplement whereas today individual teachers are constantly creating worksheets of varying quality. Example -I developed my thinking skills by being shown how to use a semi colon and then being given a page of sentences to decide where to place semi- colons within them. Obviously many more examples like this could be given.
    Michael Gove (and I speak as an unreconstructed Labour party supporter and activist before Tony Blair wiped the Labour Party out – Currently politically homeless and no I am not a Tory – couldn’t be in the same room as people who praise Mrs Thatcher) has my support – yes you can be left wing and not support the witless ideology that has damaged British Education. Try some thinking before knee jerking to the strings of these academics of dubious ability or value.
    Please DO NOT add me on!

    Reply

    1. Thank you David – our first dissenter! Good for you. You were educated at a time when most children left school at 14 – many, according to the data, illiterate. I am sure you had a wonderful education and that you are a great teacher, but this letter is not about the quality of our textbooks in comparison to those in 1950. It is a protest against the inaccurate information and inflammatory language that this current Secretary of State uses. I appreciate your comments, however, thank you.

      Reply

      1. A nifty reply that ignores the point – I just think that the academics who prattle on about Thinking Skills and Problem Solving are scoundrels happily misleading people for ideological purposes- What you don’t see is that the inaccurate information and the inflammatory language comes from you and others who think like you and not the Secretary of State.

        I just gave an example of where thinking skills can be developed and I presume my mistake was to focus on practical matters for nothing I read about objections to the reforms seems remotely concerned with giving children an education or with practicalities. (By the way children left school quite happily at 14 or 15 if they were not interested in qualifications because there was full employment)

        Reply

  1122. Please add my name
    Kathy Barkway retired Primary Headteacher- Education Consultant- External Examiner PGCE and BA3 Kingston University

    Reply

  1128. Please add me to the list.
    Faye Worthy-Pauling
    KS1 middle manager and reading Coordinator.

    Reply

  1131. Thank you for this, please add my name when you can. Joanna Taylor Head of PSHEe Secondary teacher.

    Reply

  1136. Thank you so much for doing this. Gove’s ill-informed policy making has to be challenged.
    Please add my name.

    Reply

  1140. Please add my name

    Julie Freeman, primary teacher, head of year , state junior school

    Reply

  1141. Please add my name to the list:
    Ken Holmes Year 1 and 2 teacher.
    Thank you for organising this.

    Reply

  1142. I would appreciate you adding my name. Bill Corbett, retired Secondary Asst. Head, Union caseworker.

    Reply

  1143. Please add my name and thank you for all the time this must be taking
    Alison Turvey, Class teacher, state primary

    Reply

  1146. Thank you for organising this, please add me also.

    Steve Beaty – Music teacher at a state secondary

    Reply

  1151. Please add my name.
    These changes and other policies mean the pupils I teach are going to be unable to reach their potential. SEN pupils are going to be written off and have no avenues left open to them.

    Assessment coordinator and Head of Science, Special school

    Reply

  1152. Claire Greengrass
    Please add my name to the list.
    Claire Greengrass – Teacher – Special School
    I live in hope that Mr Gove will be removed from office as a result of some kind of ‘performance management’ appraisal, where he will be found to be ‘inadequate’!

    Reply

  1157. Please add my name
    Jonathan Humble, Primary Deputy Head and Class Teacher

    and here’s a poem to be going on with …
    This Teacher’s Bucket:
    Ambitions burn within me. They’ve smouldered for a while,
    ‘Though Jim the Grim has left his card, black edged as is his style.
    But I’m not predisposed yet to shuffle off this coil,
    I’ve got a list of things to do before I go sub-soil:
    Like make a mechanism, enhancing life for all,
    Invent a panacea, sorting problems large and small.
    I’d like to be a pilot who tests the latest jet,
    And scale a mountain so obscure, no climber’s climbed it yet;
    I want to solve equations, and unify the law
    Pertaining to the questions left by Einstein heretofore;
    But most of all, dear reader, the thing I’d like to see,
    Would be when Gove gets sacked and hoiked out from the D.F.E.

    Reply

  1158. Brilliantly written and totally right. I wonder if Gove will actually read it. He might learn something but might think it is just ‘yadda yadda’

    Reply

  1163. Hi
    Please add my name. Michael Gove lives in a dream world and has no idea about what is best for young children. He wants us to produce robots who god help us might turn out like him!!! Hmmm!
    Holly Brand-Assistant Head (Early Years)

    Reply

  1164. Please add my name.
    Many thanks.

    Jonathan Friesner
    Reception teacher, State Infants’ school.

    Reply

  1169. Please add my name. Our children deserve much, much better

    Reply

  1170. Please add my name. Thank you so much for doing this.
    Sarah Cota, Deputy Headteacher, Infant School

    Reply

  1173. Thank you for making sure we know that not everyone regards teachers as incompetent and unprofessional- just our government.

    Kathryn Hutchings- KS4 English Co-ordinator- Secondary State

    Reply

  1177. I grow increasingly depressed with the education system and a minister that has no interest in listening to anyone but the sound of his own voice.

    Reply
  1181. Pingback: Teachers sign petition against Gove’s curriculum plans | Education Today

  1182. Please include me in your list, as a creative leader I feel suffocated in the current cllimate. Haed of Creative Design, Secondary Academy

    Reply

  1186. It is extraordinary that many experts in the teaching profession are just being completely ignored or insulted.
    Chair of National Drama and President of the International Drama, Theatre and Education Association, Executive Forum Member of the World Alliance for Arts Education.

    Reply

  1188. My details are incorrect above. I am an MFL teacher at British overseas primary and secondary schools.

    Reply

  1189. Please add my name too.

    I am a teacher and school counsellor working internationally.

    Reply

  1191. Please add my name. Many thanks for taking the time to organise this action.

    Helen Treutler, English teacher 6th form college, and part-time MEd student

    Reply

    1. Hi Helen, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

  1192. Please add my name:
    Susie Arnott
    Supply teacher, ex ICT Advisory Teacher and Deputy Headteacher, Primary

    Reply

    1. Hi Susie, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

  1193. Please add my name. Thank you.
    Jocelyn Mack AST and Consultant (Creativity across the curriculum / cross-curricular teaching and learning)

    Reply

    1. Hi Jocelyn, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

  1194. Please add me
    Carole Morgan, Philosophy Religion and Ethics teacher, state secondary.

    Reply

    1. Hi Carole, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Hi Tanya, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Hi Toby the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

  1197. The one thing that I am surprised at, is that it appears the we are being told to return to “chalk and talk”. A system that has become rather discredited.
    Facts, for the sake of facts, without any link to build a construct from (or even towards) just become numbers, or words, or formulas.
    I accept that there are patterns that need to be understood to help any person progress. Sentence structure, word structure, formula manipulation and times tables. Would I expect everyone to be able to do this at the same time? not really, most people wouldn’t but Mr. Gove does.
    Can some of this be performed without the use of rote learning? Probably, does rote learning still have a role to play? I would suggest yes but it is part of the armoury, not the full kit.

    If we want a generation of pub quiz champions, then great. If on the other hand, we (as a nation) want creative, independent thinkers, then not so great.
    I don’t think that there have been any papers published that have discredited Ben Bloom yet (willing to be corrected), so surely that would be the first place to look. It doesn’t matter where you are from, which sector you teach (in my own, Edwards Demming came up with an idea that is basically Blooms) there has to be the scope for exploration and experimentation. Tom Burkard’s statement that from free play, the Western world would not have put a man on the Moon, I think is nonsense. I would suggest that it was through free play and experimentation we gained the ideas and skills that we could then channel in a constructive manner, to put a man on an orbiting rock (and the clever bit, get him back).

    I accept that working in both FE and HE implies that I don’t deal Infants but as a parent, I have certainly had too. Watching my kids learn through play, whether that is using a toy from the ELC, Lego or similar. Possibly role play, like pretending to be a Rabbit (my youngest). To then when I see students, experimenting with ideas to make a product, suggests that the use of experimentation, exploration, play (structured or not), leads towards questioning, analysing and developing. Not just within their subject matter but as individuals as well.

    Reply

    1. Hi Charlotte the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Hi Janis, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Hi Louise, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Hi Naida, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Hi Jennifer, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

  1203. Please add my name Jon Ball Head of Design and Technology working in an International School

    Reply

    1. Hi jon, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

  1204. Please add my name too, thanks. Primary school governor, an outstanding one at that

    Reply

    1. Hi Richard, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Hi Brian, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Hi Philip, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Hi Steve, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

  1208. Please add my name too. I’m Deputy Head (Curriculum, Learning and Teaching) in a secondary school
    I’m deeply concerned that at a time when practitioners are moving towards an evidence-based approach the direction that the Minister is taking seems to be entirely ideologically driven. This is no way for policy in any area to be decided.

    Reply

    1. Hi Linda, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Hi Lara the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead? Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Julia, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead? Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Amanda the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead? Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

  1212. I fully support you in this struggle and would love to add my name. Sadly though I’m not a teacher so I wouldn’t want to dilute your work. What I am, is a mother of two bright, inquisitive primary school children whose immense love of learning would be quashed by Gove’s plans. I wish you all the luck in the world.

    Reply

    1. Janet and you are an important stakeholder in state education who has every right to sign this, so please do. The letter itself is closed, but we would welcome your name on the online petition. Simply write parent in the job description and the age phase of your children in the sector.

      Reply

  1213. Unfortunately we will become a profession of ‘robots’, delivering the facts, lacking inspiration and claiming sick pay due to low morale, feelings of inadequacy and poor motivation. Gove is invited to spend a week in my school and see how hard my staff work and how we develop a sense of awe and motivation from age 3 onwards. The love of learning does not develop by demand!

    Please add my name to the list.
    Heather Madsen, Head teacher

    Reply

    1. Heather, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead? Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Shirley, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead? Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Megan the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead? Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

  1216. Young people are entitled to learning which draws upon their creative and imaginative responses. They have the right to discuss, hypothesise and question. It is unacceptable that Gove has pursued an agenda based on his personal preference; he has not listened, discussed or presented a rationale for his policies.The extent of his actions were not fully recognised in the early years of this government and the implications of what his policy will create are still to be accurately identified.

    Reply

    1. Geoff, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead? Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Shakila, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead? Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

  1218. Count me in, and Gove out! Victoria Jaquiss, Head of Steel Pans,Leeds Music Service, and pt teacher to children with Special Needs

    Reply

    1. VIctoria, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead? Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

  1219. Please add my name: Peter Barlow
    Teacher of Drama, qualified in Secondary (my current role) and Further Education. Also EFL/ESOL…
    International teaching experience in Drama and EFL.
    And a parent of three school-age children, whose intelligence is being discouraged as we speak, while they are encouraged to memorise ‘facts’ without considering how to assess their value, nor how to use them.

    Reply

    1. Peter, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead? Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

    1. Hi Karen, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

  1221. Many thanks for writing this.

    Please add my name.
    Nicki Allman, Assistant Headteacher, Primary

    Reply

    1. Hi Nicki, the letter is now closed. I need to do some marking and was adding every one manually. Could you please sign the online petition instead – the link is at the top of the blog. Thank you SO much for your support.

      Reply

  1223. I want to add my name to the petition. I worked for Learning Resources Branch of the Inner London Education Authority for five years. I value education for children and young people now and in the future.

    Reply

  1225. Please add me too. I tried to find the online petition…could you send a link please?
    Les McAnaney
    Primary headteacher.

    Reply

  1226. Please add me: this letter sets out clearly what I have been worrying about for some time.
    Barbara Curry
    Educational Consultant specialising in Inclusion, and previously headteacher for 13 years in two inner-city primary schools

    Reply

  1228. Very well reasoned. Please add me too.
    John S Summerwill: A-Level Chair of Examiners; PGCE Lecturer (retired)

    Reply

  1234. Please add my name to the list. Thanks
    Jacqui Allward – Geography and RE teacher. Secondary.

    Reply

  1236. I am a product of a strict, rigid and test driven system of education in the Indian subcontinent. When I came to UK 17 years ago, and looked into the curriculum and the strategies used here, it made me like learning. I decided to educate my children in UK due to this difference in the ways of delivering the learning curriculum. After reading about the recently proposed changes I am a very concerned parent. Whereas countries in Asia are trying to leave the victorian test driven system behind and adopt a more creative thinking culture in schools to improve themselves, England it seems is going back to the old slate and chalk!!!

    Reply

    1. Thank you Samina, it’s really interesting to have your insight and hopefully this will make a difference. There will always be teachers who, whatever changes government makes, will do their best to find creative and exciting ways to teach, so I hope that this continues to be the case. Thanks for your support.

      Reply

  1237. I work in schools as creative practitioner and am a concerned parent. I am not a qualified teacher, but would like to add my support. Is there a petition organised for parents & young people?

    Reply

    1. Not as yet, but it’s a good idea. You can sign this one, just say that you are a parent in the job description section! You are a stakeholder.

      Reply

  1239. Farida Hill – MFL Teacher – Secondary academy – Add me to the list please. Thank you for all your efforts

    Reply

  1253. Add me please.
    Colin Tucker – former Assistant Head in a secondary community school, now part-time teacher of English

    Reply

  1257. Have signed the petition on the alternate site…good luck.
    (Left a “d” out of one of my words as that’s probably what Gove thinks we should be a paid a day…in Old Money of course.

    Reply

  1261. Hi Debra, It’s Angela here from Man Met Uni Press Office. I’m just wondering if you can get in touch with me regarding this story as it’s generating quite a bit of interest – all good!
    Can you email me with your conatct details as soon as you can at A.Kirk@mmu.ac.uk
    Thanks you,
    Angela

    Reply

  1266. Well done – you are the spokesperson for moderate, sensible professionals who care about education and the future of our young people. we are the ‘Friends of Promise’

    Reply

  1271. Please add my name:
    Victoria Howitt, Professional Developemnt Coordinator and Subject Leader, Secondary.
    Thanks.

    Reply

  1276. Please add me to your list. Tricia Thomas, retired Early Years teacher, parent, grandparent and Primary School Governor.

    Reply

  1280. I whole-heartedly agree. I am a Head of Drama, and spend all my time asking children to think of their responses to problems, and to empathise, and basically, give their opinion and think critically. The ability to make logical arguments and connections helps to make students who are mature and thoughtful. There is more to education than the rote learning of facts.

    Reply
  1282. Pingback: Calling All Parents | Love Learning....

  1283. Please add me too: Dave Darwent, Deputy Director & Senior Mentor Co-ordinator, Longley Park Sixth Form College

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  1285. Please add my name, thanks.
    Steven Adby , Director, Partake ‘Theatre in Education’ company

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  1288. Yet again government is far from being interested How the teachers teach
    Back the teachers not the government

    Reply

  1292. I have left state education to open a centre for alternative learning. We are not a school or a free school. We support those families who choose to home educate, many of them exasperated at a system which fails to be either child centred and fails to offer a ‘learning to learn’ approach which is essential for an age in which we the only certainty is change.

    Reply

  1294. Duly signed Debra. The man’s ignorance is shameful.
    Thank you for giving me a voice.
    Annie

    Reply

  1297. I have signed the petition. Thank you for the clarity with which you put forward your (and our) voice.
    Lucy

    Reply
  1301. Pingback: White-haired radicalism and the evidence-free administration: The Evernote Files | Hunky Dory Early Years

    1. I agree, that petitioning alone is not enough, but without it, I would not have had the lever to be heard in the national media or to present my thoughts and ideas to parliament so it was a means to an end, not a means in itself, but I know what you mean. For me, the next step is always the next step. The letter was the letter – people are still signing and it featured in our local press today, but the main question is Now What? Which is why I’m continuing to write, blog, set up conferences and campaign. And teach, of course. Though highlights help with the white hair!

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      1. I work as an NHS GP in North Somerset. SOme children known to me who seemed to love learning are now fearful of attending school because of the constant tests and the demand that they read 5 times weekly . I fear that such children will not only be put off leaning for ever but will also develop significant mental health problems.

        Reply
  1302. Pingback: A Petition Against Passing Off Blogposts as Petitions | Scenes From The Battleground

  1304. Socialist Educational Association supports the argument against Gove.
    Mike Newman, former science inspector

    Reply
  1305. Pingback: The Evening Post - Teachers sign petition against Gove's curriculum plans

  1306. I have definitely signed but cannot find my name — have tried signing again but have been unable to do so -says email has been used already – confused!

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    1. Graham, you’ll be on the online petition I think. Will have a look in the morning. The names at the bottom of the letter were the ones we took to parliament in march.

      Reply
  1307. Pingback: Labour and schools | Local Schools Network

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