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Teachers shout 'rubbish' at Morgan's academy plans Teachers shout 'rubbish' at Morgan's academy plans
(about 2 hours later)
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has been met with shouts of "rubbish" as she told teachers about plans to turn all schools in England into an academy.Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has been met with shouts of "rubbish" as she told teachers about plans to turn all schools in England into an academy.
In an address to the NASUWT teachers' conference, Ms Morgan said she would not back down on the plans to make every school an academy by 2020.In an address to the NASUWT teachers' conference, Ms Morgan said she would not back down on the plans to make every school an academy by 2020.
She also urged the union to take a more positive line about the profession rather than talking of "crisis".She also urged the union to take a more positive line about the profession rather than talking of "crisis".
She told teachers she would do more to protect them from online harassment.She told teachers she would do more to protect them from online harassment.
Initially applauded when she took to the stage at the gathering in Birmingham, Ms Morgan's speech met with a frosty response from delegates at times.Initially applauded when she took to the stage at the gathering in Birmingham, Ms Morgan's speech met with a frosty response from delegates at times.
There was laughter and clapping when she said the government did not always get things right, and one delegate shouted "get off" when she asked teachers to "step up".There was laughter and clapping when she said the government did not always get things right, and one delegate shouted "get off" when she asked teachers to "step up".
Others, though, praised her for coming to speak to teachers in person. Others, though, praised her for coming to speak to teachers at a union conference.
Analysis by BBC Education Editor Branwen JeffriesAnalysis by BBC Education Editor Branwen Jeffries
It was an uncompromising message from Nicky Morgan to the teachers gathered here.It was an uncompromising message from Nicky Morgan to the teachers gathered here.
She told them either they could step up to the challenge of improving education or spend the next four years battling the government.She told them either they could step up to the challenge of improving education or spend the next four years battling the government.
There was, she said, no reverse gear for the government plans. But Nicky Morgan also recognised their concerns about red tape and workload.There was, she said, no reverse gear for the government plans. But Nicky Morgan also recognised their concerns about red tape and workload.
Her speech was heard in a mixture of mainly polite to stony silence and some heckling. At the end there was some polite applause.Her speech was heard in a mixture of mainly polite to stony silence and some heckling. At the end there was some polite applause.
Afterwards delegates described her speech as provocative, but many also gave her credit for being brave enough to face an audience of teachers.Afterwards delegates described her speech as provocative, but many also gave her credit for being brave enough to face an audience of teachers.
'No reverse gear''No reverse gear'
Ms Morgan paid tribute to the profession, but said there could be no pulling back from the government's agenda of reform.Ms Morgan paid tribute to the profession, but said there could be no pulling back from the government's agenda of reform.
The government has announced plans to make every school in England become an academy by 2020.The government has announced plans to make every school in England become an academy by 2020.
However, the scheme has met with resistance from opposition parties, teachers' unions and Conservative local councillors.However, the scheme has met with resistance from opposition parties, teachers' unions and Conservative local councillors.
But Ms Morgan told delegates: "The education system should extend opportunity to young people and serve to improve the life chances of every single young person in this country. But Ms Morgan told delegates the government's plans would improve the education system in England.
"Our White Paper will take that vision forward and sets out how we will improve the education system in this country. "I want to be clear [...] there is no reverse gear when it comes to our education reforms."
"I want to be clear there will be no pulling back from that vision; there is no reverse gear when it comes to our education reforms." Ms Morgan also accused the NASUWT of peddling too much negative comment about the state of the profession, teacher retention and recruitment.
Ms Morgan argued that the teachers' unions had a duty to paint a more positive picture of what it meant to be a teacher and help to attract new entrants to the profession. "If I were a young person making a decision about my future career and I saw some of the language coming out from the NASUWT as well as some of the other unions, would I want to become a teacher?
"I need NASUWT to do their bit. In an economy that is growing, with more graduate opportunities than ever before, why aren't the teaching unions doing everything they can to help? "If I read about a profession 'standing on the precipice of a crisis', would I consider a life in teaching? - no I would not."
"Why aren't they using the tools available to them to build up teachers, promote the profession and tell the story of what a rewarding job teaching really is? Ms Morgan went on: "The teaching unions have a choice - spend the next four years doing battle with us and doing down the profession they represent in the process, or stepping up, seizing the opportunities and promise offered by the White Paper and helping us to shape the future of the education system."
"The teaching unions have a choice - spend the next four years doing battle with us and doing down the profession they represent in the process, or stepping up, seizing the opportunities and promise offered by the White Paper and helping us to shape the future of the education system."
It is the first time a Conservative education secretary has addressed the NASUWT conference since 1997.It is the first time a Conservative education secretary has addressed the NASUWT conference since 1997.
NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates thanked Ms Morgan for attending the annual gathering and said she would be welcome every year. NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates thanked Ms Morgan for attending the annual gathering and said she would be welcome to attend every year.
But she urged the Secretary of State to abandon imposing the academies system on the remaining local authority-controlled schools in England. But she urged her to abandon imposing the academies system on the remaining local authority-controlled schools in England.
She said: "Don't allow yourself to become the next Iain Duncan Smith; listen to the concerns being raised.She said: "Don't allow yourself to become the next Iain Duncan Smith; listen to the concerns being raised.
"If you want education excellence everywhere, then recognise there are outstanding academies, outstanding community schools, outstanding foundation schools, outstanding voluntary-aided schools which prove academies do not have the monopoly on excellence.""If you want education excellence everywhere, then recognise there are outstanding academies, outstanding community schools, outstanding foundation schools, outstanding voluntary-aided schools which prove academies do not have the monopoly on excellence."
Protection of teachers
Ms Morgan also pledged more support for teachers to protect them from the threat of violence and harassment.Ms Morgan also pledged more support for teachers to protect them from the threat of violence and harassment.
This followed NASUWT's own research, which showed the extent to which teachers are being trolled and abused on social media.This followed NASUWT's own research, which showed the extent to which teachers are being trolled and abused on social media.
Ms Morgan said she had asked her officials to start work on what more can be done to ensure teachers are better protected, particularly online.Ms Morgan said she had asked her officials to start work on what more can be done to ensure teachers are better protected, particularly online.
White Paper proposals:White Paper proposals: