'There has never been a better time to be a teacher..."

So said Michael Gove earlier today.

Read the speech here...

"Great teaching can and does make a huge difference to children’s performance. Great teaching involves empathy and energy, authority and resilience; detailed planning; constant self-improvement. A great teacher has the ability to ‘read’ a classroom and understand its dynamics, instantly; shows inspirational leadership, exciting and motivating pupils to help them achieve their full potential.

But common to all the great teachers I know is a love of children and a love of knowledge. And that shouldn’t be surprising - because the very best academic research also proves the vital importance of an education which is knowledge rich."

In other news...