Meeting with Michael Gove

Michael Gove, shadow secretary of state for children schools and families, met with General Secretary John Dunford and Parliamentary Specialist Anna Cole at the end of March to compare views on current education policy.

The wide-ranging discussion covered diplomas, chartered assessors, accountability and autonomy, floor targets such as 30 per cent of students receiving five good GCSEs and increasing the professionalism of teachers.

Regarding autonomy, Michael Gove reiterated the Conservative's policy of encouraging parents and other community groups to set up schools. He said that the Conservatives would give increasing autonomy to schools as they became more successful and would hope to create a 'virtuous circle' where good schools flourish.

There was agreement with the ASCL principle that it must be equally possible for a good school in a disadvantaged area and a good school in a well-off area to be graded as successful.

ASCL and the shadow secretary of state agreed to meet on a more frequent basis from now until the next election.