Teaching unions have won a major victory after the Supreme Court in California voted to uphold teacher tenure laws.

A case brought on behalf of a group call Students Matter - backed by Silicon Valley entrepreneur David Welch - argued that education standards are being damaged because it is too difficult to remove poorly performing teachers.

But in a decision that was watched closely by educators in other states, the court voted not to hear the case Vergara v California.

In April, courts reversed a ruling that the state’s tenure laws were unconstitutional because they harmed students.

This week’s decision means that an appeal will not be heard and that tenure laws will remain in place.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said she was “relieved” at the vote.

“The billionaire-funded attack, from its inception, tried to pit our children against their teachers-people who make a difference in our children’s lives every day-rather than understand and solve the real problems ailing public education,” she said.

“Now that this chapter is closed, we must embrace our shared responsibility to help disadvantaged kids by supporting them so they can reach their full potential.”

She added: “I hope this decision closes the book on the flawed and divisive argument that links educators’ workplace protections with student disadvantage.

Mr Welch had described the case as a “chance for the system to look at itself though the eyes of the children and determine whether they’re doing the right thing or not”.

After the decision, he said that he will continue to work with the state legislature to push his reform agenda, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Similar cases against tenure are being brought in New York and Minnesota.

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