Teachers Tweet Gove24/01/12
When the coalition government arrived in May 2010 there appeared to be a rush of significant changes. Firstly schools received the devastating news that the Building Schools for the Future Programme (BSF), established to re build or refurbish run down schools, was to be scrapped. Academies, which had previously been defined as failing schools that were rebuilt and restructured schools to save them from closure suddenly became the cream of schools – the ‘outstanding’ ones. This was swiftly followed by ‘Free Schools.’ The curriculum was put on ice and schools were given the freedom to make their own decisions. These significant changes un-nerved the sector – not just because none of us like such major changes, but more so because there appeared to have been no consultation process prior to these announcements. Today however we hear the news that the public have responded enthusiastically to a Twitter appeal for questions for MPs to ask the Education Secretary, Michael Gove. A spokeswoman for the committee said the MPs want to reflect the most pressing concerns in education. This move also demonstrates how MPs are moving into the 21st Century. Graham Stuart MP, chair of the committee, believes this is the first time MPs have used Twitter to ask for questions for a select committee. Clearly Gove now wants to hear from those who experience the sector’s issues every day of their working lives. Great news for the sector – we wait to hear the outcomes! The questions can be submitted by 11:00 GMT on Friday 27 January by adding the hashtag #AskGove to the tweet. | 
