Anthony Seldon: How we make sure that Michael Gove’s legacy isn’t lost

He has bequeathed his successor, the talented but largely unknown Nicky Morgan, a difficult challenge. Whatever she tries to do will be judged against his yardstick. If she goes too far in the direction of being emollient to those whom Gove alienated she runs the risk of becoming likeable but ineffective, and of going native. It will be hard too for her to replace a star in the dying months of a government. It is like a rookie player coming on to replace Suarez for the last 10 minutes after he has scored three goals and bitten chunks out of the opposition. Already, the Right of the Conservative Party is anticipating her failure.

Much needs to be done if the Gove legacy is to be built upon, not lost. Here are the main things.

The emphasis on an academic education for all must be maintained and deepened. Equally, however, better provision needs to be made — above all for the ages from 14 to 16 onwards — for those young people whose aptitudes are not primarily academic. They have real abilities and interests. Schools must nurture these if they are to do the best job for young people and for the country. University technical colleges, which offer outstanding technical education from the age of 14, should be scaled up dramatically.

The trend towards greater diversity of provision, with free schools and academies, must be driven forward, with a presumption of trust that heads and teachers know what to do. However, where they are shown to be failing young people, government should come in swiftly and decisively. The great success story of London’s schools over the past decade shows that even challenging schools can be turned around. This dynamic approach needs to be rolled out across the country.

The Government urgently needs to boost the numbers of top university recruits joining teaching, especially in languages, science and mathematics: there is a much bigger shortage than it realises. Teach First has shown the way; it should be expanded and complemented by Teach Second, to bring older graduates into the profession.

The greatest criticism of Gove was that his vision for education was narrow and unimaginative. He had a tin ear for creativity and an analogue ear for digitalisation, which is slowly transforming schools. His views left little space for the vital role that schools must play in the development of good character and roundedness in young people. Education ministers and officials have never fully understood that schools don’t have to choose between academic results and breadth of education. The best achieve both.

Schools should be encouraged to teach mindfulness. Had Gove himself been more considered and self-aware, which mindfulness teaches, he would have focused his attention on the major issues confronting him, rather than dissipating his energy and goodwill in trivial spats.

Nicky Morgan nailed her colours to the mast at the weekend when she went overboard to praise the “outstanding” teaching profession and to say that all state schools are worthy of her pleasure. Questions will be asked about whether her agenda is more electorally than educationally motivated, given the importance that the Conservative Party places on winning back the teacher vote. Other voices, including Right-wing commentators, are questioning whether she has the stomach to fight the education establishment, and worry that “the forces of mediocrity” will regain power.

The Right has drawn entirely the wrong lesson from Gove. They think his hostility to everyone was vital, heroic even. How foolish. Many in schools genuinely want the same things that he did. His biggest single mistake was sacking Baroness Morgan as chair of Ofsted and alienating its head, Sir Michael Wilshaw, a saint of school improvement. Ultimately, Gove threw it away because of a compulsion to fight everyone and to change everything in the space of one government.

In a second term, if the Conservatives win, they will need single-minded, decisive, and clearly thought-through plans. However, they must respect serious professionals who have devoted their lives to fighting for the highest standards in public services.

Anthony Seldon is master of Wellington College and author of a forthcoming book about David Cameron.