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ATL comment on Michael Gove's pledge to end political interference in A-levels
2 March 2010
Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said:
"Michael Gove has a great sense of irony. He wants to end political interference by, interfering. On one hand he wants to end DCSF and QCDA involvement in setting A-levels while on the other plans to change the curriculum to fit the Conservative Party's agenda of rigour.
"ATL believes in the wider benefits of education and the importance of developing young people's skills for life, and not just to retain facts. We hope Michael Gove understands that teachers and young people need stability in education, not further change for change's sake."
Notes to editors
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing approximately 160,000 teachers, headteachers, lecturers and support staff in maintained and independent nurseries, schools, sixth form, tertiary and further education colleges in the United Kingdom.
ATL exists to help members, as their careers develop, through first rate research, advice, information and legal advice.
ATL is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and Education International (EI). ATL is not affiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively with all the main political parties.