Second, Stephen Pollard celebrated the demise of the GTC as a toothless quango. Yet although both were invariably discussing the same GTC, they were not examining the same issue, which is inevitably part of the reason why the council became an easy target for Michael Gove.

The potential of the GTC and its future hopes were undone by a policing narrative which perpetuated a myth that it was only interested in two things: the bad guys and #163;36.50-a-year membership.

A profession does, however, need a professional body to protect, co-ordinate and promote it. And without a firm indication of what will replace the GTC (if anything) it is astonishing to hear teachers and politicians (and their biographers) celebrating its demise.

Dr David Spendlove, Senior lecturer, University of Manchester.