Challenge to name 'bargepole schools'

Damian Green wants the minister to name names

The Education Secretary Estelle Morris is to be challenged by the Conservatives to identify the schools which she "would not touch with a bargepole".

The education secretary used the words on Monday to emphasise the need for change, when she presented her argument for reforming the comprehensive system.

But the phrase brought an angry response from teachers, with union leaders denouncing it as "outrageous" and "demoralising".

Click here for reaction of teachers' unions.

Now the shadow education secretary, Damian Green, has tabled a series of parliamentary questions which will seek to put further pressure on the government.

Demanding list

He is asking the education secretary to list the schools she has visited and to name those that have fallen into this unsatisfactory category - and to explain why they are unsatisfactory.

But he says that parliamentary rules preclude the use of the phrase "would not touch with a bargepole".

"Estelle Morris must have visited many schools since she took her job, and today every one of them will be wondering whether they are on her blacklist," said Mr Green.

"She owes it to the many good schools she must visit to name names. If she cannot, or will not, then we will know that she was just spraying around insults to hide the underlying failure of her policy."