The Department for Education (DfE) is claiming that the new league tables vindicate its policy of challenging failing schools to improve or face forced academisation. With 60% less primary schools failing to hit floor targets, perhaps they have a point.
Understandably, teaching unions NAHT and the ATL disagree, taking the view that the tables show that schools can improve regardless of their status and that this is evidence that the current system is working well.
The sector is divided on the best approach, but it seems highly unlikely that Mr Gove will pull back from forced academisation or indeed slow the pace of change. Perhaps the government will go further and consider elements of the policy exchange report which suggests that the private sector could yet be a force for good in education.
Divided opinion will remain as will forced academisation. Perhaps Mr Gove may even up the pace of change in 2013.