Michael Gove seems to love the idea of “traditional” subjects. But perhaps he needs to study rhetoric given his response to the GCSE question asking pupils to explain anti-Semitism. His comment was: “To suggest that anti-Semitism can ever be explained, rather than condemned, is insensitive and, frankly, bizarre”. Oh dear, so critical thinking is out of the window; you can only explain those things you agree with? An investigation of a statement is not the same as agreement with it. Hopefully an investigation is more likely to lead to a rational response rather than a thoughtless sound bite.

Paul Hopkins, Lecturer in education, Lincoln.