STEPHENByers, rising star and education minister, is a maligned man. The true begetters of “naming and shaming” were David Mallen, the new chairman of the Association of Chief Education Officers, and Neil Fletcher, recently appointed head of education at the Local Government Association (People, page 22).
In 1989, the pair - then education officer and leader respectively of the Inner London Education Authority - together named 10 schools that had been “causing concern”.
Cue outrage from parents, governors and heads who said “incredible damage” had been caused.
Mr Mallen has since reformed, of course. Last week he bravely stood up to HMChief Inspector Chris Woodhead who, he said, is “out to undermine” local education authorities and should resign forthwith.