When Mr Gove fires his rifle – we are good at catching his bullets but every now and then it would be great to help load the rifle and take aim, whilst supporting the rifle to guarantee maximum effect. Surely, this is the best way forward. We are after all the experts – so please listen to our collective advice built over many years of challenge …

It’s an absolutely stunning morning as I take my now regular drive through the Winchester countryside – spring has finally arrived. I love this tranquil drive in the mornings – I do most of my school thinking during this precious time – will we get the OFSTED call? Thoughts for briefing? Meetings today? Will little Jonny kick off in Science again? I awaken from my robotic driving and deep thought as I hear the news headline: Michael Gove to announce a Technical Baccalaureate? In fact all I hear at the moment is Michael Gove announces…

Now don’t get me wrong – I’m not resistant to change – I’ve learnt that teaching and change are like ‘two peas in a pod’ - they live together and in time – you get used to it. What I object to is not knowing about the changes. I pride myself on keeping abreast of ‘current’ affairs religiously reading my TES, position papers, LA documents and my trusted Leader Magazine. It seems that today school leaders need to watch the BBC and Sky News to be fully briefed about government policy and in particular changes to state education.

So here it is… if you are a teacher in a school or college and you want to find out what you have to implement in schools listen to the TV or radio; seems rather odd if you ask me. But, this is how it is. I was going to say what next – school holidays? But quicker than I think that, proposed changes are then announced by Mr Gove. What I will say openly here is that teachers are a moderate bunch of people and they are also the most creative (as long as you don’t fall for the propaganda that all teachers are left being militants). Give us a problem, we will give a workable, innovative and clever solution. When Mr Gove fires his rifle – we are good at catching his bullets but every now and then it would be great to help load the rifle and take aim, whilst supporting the rifle to guarantee maximum effect. Surely, this is the best way forward. We are after all the experts – so please listen to our collective advice built over many years of challenge, and change. Work with us because we actually care, just like you, about our students. When the Secretary of State finds himself in a new role of Chancellor or Leader/ Prime Minister we will be left with his legacy. As a pragmatist I would rather wait to make my mind up before I judge whether his radical changes were right. I hope he is right, I really do – my instincts don’t feel as positive. Let’s see.

With this in mind and the lack of notification, guidance and advice from the ‘Department’, I must end this so I can write for September our new pay structures and salaries, prepare for the new curriculum at Key Stage 3 and 4 and try to predict how the new accountability measures that will soon be upon us will affect my school. God bless Radio 2 for keeping me briefed and I am confident that Heads, Senior and Middle leaders and teachers will create innovative and creative solutions to these constant changes…

J S Ashley, Headteacher April 2013

Jason Ashley is Headteacher of Redbridge Community School, in inner city Southampton. Redbridge has been rated outstanding on four separate occasions and we are determined to gain our fifth when it presents.