The PISA rankings have exposed Labour’s policies on education

Michael Gove wants to blame Labour for today’s PISA rankings, in which the UK has fallen five places to 26th, and Labour wants to blame Michael Gove. So in this spirit of mutual accusation, Gove and his opposite number Tristram Hunt, pitched up in the Commons asking one another to support their own plans for reform. Gove repeatedly appealed to the opposition to join him in supporting his various policies from more autonomy for head teachers to performance-related pay, closing his statement by appealing to Labour for a ‘unified national commitment to excellence’ in education. Hunt then responded by asking Gove if he would join Labour in supporting various policies cooked up by the Opposition front bench, such as qualified teachers and collaboration for free schools. Neither man accepted the other’s invitation, funnily enough.