Still in denial

7th September 2001, 1:00am

Share

Still in denial

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/still-denial
THE shortage of teachers has finally reached crisis point, with the new term about to start and the Government, as usual, in determined denial. Meanwhile, heads across the country are rubbishing their new appointments.

Why is anyone surprised? Surely this is what they wanted. Despite all the efforts of Chris Woodhead and the Office for Standards in Education to reinvent themselves, they were the ones who wrecked teacher morale. Egged on by governments of both colours, they vied with each other in shouting about the thousands of useless teachers. They set up, deliberately, a climate of aggression and fear, all the time claiming that they alone cared about standards.

Well, they succeeded. Thousands of teachers left. Are our rulers pleased with themselves? OFSTED now is so tainted by its efforts to intimidate that it needs to be consigned to history so that its sensible members can start to put right the wrongs of recent years. Will it happen? Of course not. Our governments do not listen, do not admit faults and do not learn. P O’Byrne 199 Nutfield Road, Merstham, Surrey

Want to keep reading for free?

Register with Tes and you can read two free articles every month plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters.

Keep reading for just £1 per month

You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get:

  • Unlimited access to all Tes magazine content
  • Exclusive subscriber-only stories
  • Award-winning email newsletters
Recent
Most read
Most shared