The death of the teaching profession

Former schools chief schools inspector Chris Woodhead explains why he thinks teachers are no longer in a profession. 

"State school staff are expected to be puppets for ministers’ latest agendas - even if they are nonsense.

I don’t understand. Why has there not been widespread rebellion? Riots in teacher training institutions? Expressions of disgust in staffrooms?

Teaching is a profession. By definition, professionals determine their own beliefs and practice. They don’t twitch mindlessly as politicians pull the strings. But this is exactly what teachers in state schools are expected to do. How is it, I asked myself, as I wrote my new book, A Desolation of Learning, that we have surrendered so much professional independence so easily?...

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