Someone has sent me an extraordinary newsletter from the outgoing secretary of the North Yorkshire NUT. It provides a unique insight into the leadership of the most militant of the teaching unions. As anyone with a child at school will know, the NUT has been instrumental in organising this week’s ‘day of action’ in the hope of closing as many schools as possible across the country.
Some of it is just boilerplate. For instance, there’s a quote from Fiona Millar claiming that the coalition’s academy programme is an abysmal failure. In fact, more than 450 academies have opened since last September — bringing the total to over 650. In addition, another 1,070 schools have applied to convert, meaning that over a third of all taxpayer-funded secondary schools are either academies or in the process of becoming one. By any measure, the policy is a resounding success.
This is just standard misinformation that the NUT and its allies disseminate as a matter of course.
Get Britain's best politics newsletters
Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in