Debate: The last word

It was sad that the usually polite headteachers at their annual conference heckled Beverley Hughes, the Children’s Minister, when she insisted that tests and tables had to stay. Silence is the acceptable way of showing dissent and shouting at a guest is not good form. So why were the Heads moved to rudeness? I think it was more than the issue itself because opposition to tests, targets and tables is so widespread that it has to be a given. Even the House of Commons Select Committee is calling for reform and the Government is desperately scratching around to find a politically-acceptable alternative.

Beyond testing