I - in common, I imagine, with many teachers - have been sceptical of UK education secretary Michael Gove’s reforms and impending new curriculum. I have considered the shift to more facts to be a retreat from the kind of education that creates ideas and inspires the question “why?”. However, I do feel that a balance of facts that lead on to learning would be a way forward. What Mr Gove has done is to make the education sector think about what it is doing. Warren Bennis in On Becoming a Leader reminds us that inspiration comes from a dialogue between curiosity and knowledge leading to understanding. In other words, a balance of facts and creativity creates education. We need to start thinking what could be and not accept what is. Mr Gove has at least forced us do this.

Daniel Banks, Teacher, Cornwall.