The Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, won a few more friends with a speech to teachers - even though he remains embroiled in a sticky row over a lack of funding in some schools.
He drew loud applause from teachers in Bournemouth in a speech to the NASUWT annual conference and the union's leaders said they thought it was the best reception an education secretary had ever been given.
With his rich praise of the achievements of teachers, for raising standards in schools and for the key role the NASUWT has played in drawing up an agreement to cut workload, he was bound to be received well.
 Jackie Brockway was impressed |
Jackie Brockway, a music teacher from Lincolnshire, liked what she heard.
"I was pretty impressed. He gave a lot of information and answered questions directly," she said.
Throughout the conference, delegates have said they are worried that some heads might claim they are too short of funds to honour the workload agreement - which is based on using extra classroom assistants to take the strain off teachers.
The row over the "missing millions" has led some heads to threaten staff cuts rather than talk of employing more assistants.
Delegates were pleased when Charles Clarke said a "contract is a contract and heads should honour it".
He also attempted to allay fears that the workload deal would amount to a downgrading of their role.
"The workforce reform agenda is not about undermining professionals but about supporting a new form of professionalism," he said.
"That is our commitment and we want to work with you to achieve it."
Earlier, delegates had passed a resolution reinforcing the union's call for a 35-hour working week.
Concerns about tests
Jackie Brockway thought Mr Clarke suggested there was room for debate on the issue of national tests, something she is concerned about.
 One girl ... had a bucket next to her desk and was sick into it  |
She refused to let her youngest child sit the tests for seven year olds because she was suffering from stress.
Mr Clarke told the conference tests were "here to stay", but that the government was willing to have a sensible debate about possible ways of improving the way they are carried out.
"He opened the door for changing them, which was something," she said.
Jason Millington, a primary school teacher from Telford, was also pleased with Mr Clarke's hint on tests.
As a Year 6 teacher - the year in which 11 year olds sit national tests - he says children and schools are under too much pressure.
He says at some schools, staff knock on the doors of children who do not turn up for the tests, because the schools' marks will drop for absences.
"One girl was brought to school even though she had gastric flu. She had a bucket next to her desk and was sick into it," he said.
"Children are put under so much pressure. They should not be revising for Sats, they should be out enjoying themselves."
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