Headteachers and education unions have attacked Michael Gove after he said the opponents of academies are “happy with failure".
In a speech last week (Wednesday, January 4), the education secretary said that those who oppose the academy movement were the “enemies of promise" and urged more schools to convert.
Mr Gove said some local authorities and schools are preventing some students from achieving their potential by not embracing academy status.
However, his strong words sparked a backlash from education unions, which said they were an insult to the teaching profession and that academy status was not the only solution in driving up standards.
During his speech, which was delivered during a visit to Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College in south London, Mr Gove criticised unions and ministers who oppose the academy movement.
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