Natasha Devon, “mental health champion” for schools, was axed after criticising the government’s policies. “A rigorous culture of testing and academic pressure is detrimental to their mental health,” she said. The DfE denied that the sacking was connected to this or that she was being silenced.
She just wouldn’t work again in that role and would be henceforth gagged – apart from that it is as before.
She also spoke about spiralling poverty and the increase of anxiety, self-harm, anorexia, bulimia, serious depression and suicide. School is driving more pupils mad. She had to go.
Michael Rosen too has lamented the stress and worse that the dismal farce of SATs can bring. Death by absurd grammar. If you don’t get the right number of coordinating conjunctions, similes, conditionals and fronted adverbials in a sentence you’re finished.
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