Sir Michael Wilshaw today reignited the row over the sacking of the chairwoman of Ofsted, saying he told Michael Gove not to remove her from her post.
Sir Michael, chief inspector of schools, launched a defence of Sally Morgan and said he told the Education Secretary he wanted to continue working with her.
Mr Gove’s decision to veto a second term for Baroness Morgan — a Labour peer — triggered a Coalition row that saw him accused of trying to politicise Ofsted. Lady Morgan claimed she was the victim of a “determined effort from No10” to remove her.
Speaking at the education select committee today, Sir Michael said
Mr Gove had consulted him about his plans to change the chairmanship and he urged him to reconsider.
Sir Michael said Lady Morgan was “a very good chair of Ofsted… She is very knowledgable about education”.
“I said to the Secretary of State I wanted her to continue,” he added.
But he said that he accepted Mr Gove’s denial, saying: “He is an honourable man.”
