The late Ted Wragg, professor of education at Exeter University, talks to David Hart, retiring general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) about his 27 years in the post.
In this illuminating discussion, David Hart says that the government's response to the Tomlinson report was "disgraceful": "I honestly think the government has got it wrong? we have consensus, we have the universities, we had business, we had everybody you can think of on side, with some reservations? and the government suddenly turns round and says sorry, no can do."
However, of the four prime ministers he has dealt with, he names Tony Blair as the best: "I think Tony Blair has had a genuine feel for education," he says. When asked who gets the booby prize for government figures, he is unequivocal: John Patten.
Hart's greatest regret, he says, is "that we have not been able to turn the government around on league tables or on aspects of the testing system". But he is optimistic about the future: "I think we have a damn good cohort of school leaders in the business of running schools, getting the teaching and learning right."
See the resources and support materials page for links relating to this programme.
