Shrewsbury teacher attacks Michael Gove's school plans

A schoolteacher from Shrewsbury caused a stir after criticising education minister Michael Gove over the Government's controversial plans for more academies and Free Schools.

Darran Tunnah, 37, a science teacher at Meole Brace Secondary School, criticised the minister in a speech at the annual conference of teachers' union NASUWT in Birmingham over the Easter weekend.

Speaking to more than 500 people on Sunday, he said that at academies and Free Schools people who did not have the same level of qualifications as professional teachers were able to teach children.

"Teaching is a profession. It requires subject knowledge and training to do it," he said.

"In a recent story in Coronation Street a young mother took her son out of school due to a disagreement with a school rule.

"She thought teaching would be easy. Not long after her son was back in school.

"As our General Secretary, Chris Keates, said 'Teaching is not rocket science, it's harder than that!'

"When people are being flown to their holidays or operated on in hospital they expect a qualified person to do it. Why should it be any different with the people who educate their children?

"To re-phrase the famous lyrics from the Pink Floyd song – 'Oi Gove, leave the teachers alone'."

Mr Tunnah, a member of the union's Shropshire North Executive Federation Committee, said today the issue was an important one.

"My point was the fact that in academies and Free Schools, you don't have to be qualified to teach. It is just another way of the Government saving money.

In January, education secretary Michael Gove welcomed an offer by Barclays to support the drive for academies and Free Schools.

"Our reforms to give schools more independence have created opportunities for businesses and charities to make a lasting commitment to help," he said.

By Chris Burn