Morris: I'll beat rebel teachers

Education Secretary Estelle Morris warned today she would "fight and defeat" opposition to reform of teaching.

Teachers' leaders have reacted with alarm to proposals that classroom assistants should supervise children to give teachers more time for other duties. Nigel de Gruchy of the NASUWT teaching union said "cheap labour" was no solution to the recruitment crisis.

But Ms Morris, setting out a 10-year vision for the profession, was expected to say she was "willing to fight and defeat opposition to reform, no matter how well intentioned it may be".

Her speech is the start of intense negotiations against the ever-present threat of further industrial action. The Government has rejected teachers' demands for a 35-hour working week.