08 March 2024 , 13:52
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Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has said she would have "probably punched" rude Ofsted staff after hearing reports about a difficult school inspection.
Ms Keegan said she was "shocked" by what she had heard about the conduct of inspectors on a recent school visit - and said she might have taken drastic action. Speaking during a Q&A at the Association of School and College Leaders annual conference, she said: "They told me how their Ofsted experience had gone and I was shocked.
"I was actually shocked. I thought God if I had met these people, I would probably have punched them. They were really rude."
Addressing an audience of school leaders in Liverpool, Ms Keegan said: "I mean you expect people to be rude to you when you're a politician, you kind of sign up for that. But when you are kind of trying to run a school and educate children and change lives, you don't expect somebody to come in and not be respectful."
It comes at a time of strained relations between schools and the watchdog, which has come under fire since the death of headteacher Ruth Perry, who took her own life while awaiting the results of an inspection.
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The top Tory's comments were immediately criticised by Unison, who accused her of "making light of violence in schools". Unison head of education Mike Short said: “Clearly there’s much that can and should be improved in the way Ofsted inspections are carried out. But to suggest punching people is an appropriate reaction is not becoming of a Government minister.
“Making light of violence in schools when staff are increasingly likely to face assaults while doing their job is in very poor taste. Ofsted inspectors are already dealing with a great deal of hostility while they work. So much for showing respect.”
Dave Penman, General Secretary of the FDA Union, which represents civil servants, tweeted: "Can you imagine the outcry if a civil servant had said they wanted to punch a disrespectful minister (of which there’s been more than a few of late). The Prime Minister talks about lowering the temperature in politics, whilst ministers riff about punching civil servants."
Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: "I can’t believe I have to say this, but the Education Secretary should focus on reforming Ofsted, not on punching working people. An extraordinary comment from a Secretary of State painfully out of her depth."
Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: "A Secretary of State talking about assaulting someone should be shocking, but for Gillian Keegan it's just another day at the microphone. Gillian Keegan has form and this is the latest gaff from a minister who has a potty mouth, an obviously quick temper and still thinks she is doing a [insert expletive] good job. Hardly the qualities we should be instilling in our children."
The Tory schools chief has previously hit the headlines with her outspoken remarks. When dodgy concrete was found in schools last year, she was caught moaning that she had done a "f***ing good job" while others “have been sat on their a***s” in a hot mic gaffe. A day later, Ms Keegan was accused of trying to deflect blame for the crisis by telling heads who hadn't completed a Government survey to "get off their backsides".