Education Secretary Michael Gove was told in no uncertain terms to wind his neck in today after he attempted to tell head teachers what their "moral duty" was to students - saying they should keep schools open during upcoming public-sector strikes on June 30. In a letter sent to schools, the Tory MP claimed that the planned industrial action over controversial proposals to alter public-sector pensions was not justified, portraying it as an attack on pupils and parents.
Mr Gove said he was aware of strong feelings among teachers over pensions and that he was "personally committed to working openly, honestly and constructively to ensure that teachers continue to receive the high-quality pensions that they deserve and value."
He added that the government was discussing the issue with unions and that therefore "with the attendant risk of disruption to pupils' education and family life, (school closures are) not justified.
"My view is that we all have a strong moral duty to pupils and parents to keep schools open, and the government wants to help you achieve that."
But Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) general secretary Brian Lightman was unimpressed by Mr Gove's "unhelpful" rhetoric.
He said: "School leaders are fully aware of their moral duty to pupils and their parents and of their responsibilities regarding decisions about the operation of their schools. This problem is, however, not of their making.
"ASCL has already written to the Prime Minister about the damaging effects of this dispute and has not yet received a reply."
He said the solution to the problem was for the government to seek an urgent resolution "rather than sending unnecessary and unhelpful exhortations of the kind received by headteachers today."
National Union of Teachers general secretary Christine Blower said: "There's also a legal duty for key management to make sure the health and safety of children and staff is properly considered, so if there really are insufficient staff to be open, then a school should be closed."
Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) general secretary Mary Bousted said Mr Gove was wrong to assume that heads are not angry about attacks to their pensions and are not members of the unions planning to strike.
"He should recognise that the government's proposals, particularly to move from final salary to career average pensions, will cause a recruitment and retention crisis among heads and deputies," she said.
"Why would anyone want to work their way up to a headship if their pension doesn't reflect the level of responsibility or demands of the job?"
Around 300,000 teachers are expected to take to the picket lines next Thursday as part of a wider public-sector strike over pensions and cuts to jobs, services and pay.
