NIGEL de Gruchy, leader of the second largest teaching union, is a master of the soundbite but his undoubted ability to turn a colourful phrase has landed him in big trouble this time.

It was - he admits - a grave mistake to talk about “pig-ignorant peasants” and classroom assistants in the same speech and this week he apologised - several times.

He does not deny the controversial language, reported in last week’s TES, which prompted widespread outrage and made headlines in daily newspapers.

The comments, made at a Social Market Foundation seminar, came after a speech by Education Secretary Estelle Morris heralding a change in the law to allow assistants to take charge of lessons in teachers’ absence. A move which was condemned by many heads and teachers last week.

Mr de Gruchy insists he did not intend to equate assistants with peasants but to warn that extending their role was not a cheap option as appropriately trained and qualified people were required.

The general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers told The TES: “You can’t have pig-ignorant peasants supervising classes. People need to be of reasonable education and personality to command children’s respect.”

The comments infuriated trade union colleagues - none more so than Unison, the public-sector union. It represents 50,000 out of the 96,000 classroom assistants and holds the biggest vote on the TUC which Mr de Gruchy will become president of next year Dave Prentis, general secretary, demanded and received an apology. But he added that the important issue was “to use this as an opportunity to open up the debate about the pay and conditions of classroom assistants”. Most assistants are paid pound;5-pound;6 an hour and Christina McAnea, Unison’s education officer, said: “They have been patronised for years. We need to ensure they are used and not abused.”

Other letters of apology from Mr de Gruchy have been published in national newspapers and (below, left) he apologises once more, but argues that The TES reported his remarks out of context. Copies of the letters have been posted on the NASUWT’s website.

The TUC would not comment on the controversy but Mr de Gruchy said: “I hope that it will not affect my presidency and that people can accept that whatever I did, I did not do it deliberately.”

The TES letters section and website were bombarded this week by angry classroom assistants and teachers. Kathy Agass from Stevenage, a classroom assistant for 12 years, felt personally insulted. “I, like thousands of other assisants take my job very seriously.”

A straw poll in the staffroom of NASUWT members at the school where Maggie Downie, a classroom assistant with a 2.1 honours degree, works revealed no support for Mr de Gruchy’s views. Ironically, his own union even has some classroom assistant members.

Classroom assistant Sue Evans from Malvern, who has 11 O-levels, four A-levels, police sergeant and inspector exams, is part way through a degree in education and hoping to complete a postgraduate certificate in education. “If I do become a teacher I know which union I will not be joining,” she said. Matthew Jackson, meanwhile, leapt to the defence of his mother, Lynne, a classroom assistant at Oakway infant school in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, for the past nine years.

As well as teaching a group of 16 special needs pupils daily, Mrs Jackson also takes RE, art, is joint art co-ordinator and manages and trains the team of 11 learning support assistants at the school. She is also studying for a degree in teaching and learning. Seventeen-year-old Matthew said: “I challenge him to step into her shoes for a day.”

Platform, 17

Letters, 20-21

Friday, 5, 30