The big shift in approach on education that we are taking - which is different from what happened before - is that we trust teachers and we trust heads.

I have a different starting premise from those 100 academics who are so heavily invested in the regime of low expectations and narrow horizons which they have created.

No-one is forced to stand for Parliament; no-one is compelled to become a minister. If you take on those roles, which are great privileges, you also take on big responsibilities.

I think more and more respect has been accorded to teachers, and quite rightly so.

You wouldn't tolerate an underperforming surgeon in an operating theatre, or a underperforming midwife at your child's birth. Why is it that we tolerate underperforming teachers in the classroom?

I wanted to put the national interest before my personal interests.