Speaking at the NASUWT conference about the proposed boycott of Key Stage 2 tests Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families said:

I think the more heads look at these issues, the more they'll see their professional obligation is to work with us to reform for the future and to make sure that children's learning isn't disrupted.

I'm confident that, if people think hard about this in the next few weeks, that's where they'll end up.

Because I trust in the professionalism of teachers and heads, I would rather talk dialogue.

It would be a mistake to respond to some of the rhetoric we've heard in the last few days.