NUT: Education bill mixes good and bad

The National Union of Teachers' (NUT) acting general secretary Christine Blower says schools "need an expansion of top-down accountability like a hole in the head".

"Simply adding punitive intervention powers for local authorities is hardly going to gain the confidence of teachers," she commented.

Gordon Brown's proposed education bill contains some good measures but does not address the fundamental problems at the heart of the education system, Ms Blower continued.

She welcomes proposals to expand apprenticeships and second chances in education but is calling on the government to "review the crushing and oppressive accountability structure already experienced by schools".

"We need structures which enhance the involvement of communities, alongside parents and teachers, in decisions about the local running of schools."