“This speech highlights tensions between Michael Gove’s claim to be freeing up schools and the reality of the Tories’ obsession with continuing the policy of meddling and micromanaging which would simply replace one Secretary of State with another. The Conservatives have also yet to explain how they can deliver on their aim of closing the gap between the chances of young people from advantaged and disadvantaged backgrounds. David Cameron and George Osborne seem unwilling to make any commitment to protect the education budget or find more money for a pupil premium.
Heather Kidd added “Here in Shropshire we have seen what the risk to schools is when the conservatives gain power and the real gap in national Tory education policy is between their grand stated ambitions and the lack of any measures which would make any difference in raising standards.”