And so to the reception for new headteachers at the Queen Elizabeth II conference hall in Westminister. Apparently the hospitality was generous and spirits were high when Jim Knight, the schools minister, made his speech to the rookie school leaders.
Despite a certain rowdiness and chatter at the back, he managed manfully, according to the Oddly Enough spy with a vol-au-vent in his mouth. But this did not stop mutterings from some of the independent heads, who allegedly said: “They are as bad as Year 11s.”
Everyone was on their best behaviour the next day, when they were addresed by Alan Johnson.
“It can be lonely at the top, so to meet with other new heads and talk about our concerns was useful,” said an attendee.