PRIME Minister David Cameron’s plans to shake up how failing schools are tackled have been dismissed by a Swindon headteacher.

As a Conservative party manifesto pledge ahead of next year’s General Election, Mr Cameron said if the Conservatives won, eight new regional commissioners would be introduced, who would take over failing schools and have the power to sack headteachers and remove governors.

A future Conservative Govern-ment would also set up a central squad of teachers who can be sent to classrooms that are not coming up to scratch.

Mr Cameron said: “Taking my four-year-old daughter Florence to school for the first time is something I won’t forget.

“All parents know that feeling – the apprehension as you let go of your child’s hand and watch them run across the playground towards their new friends.

“But what gave me peace of mind, what made it a little easier to walk away, was knowing that Florence is being taught at a brilliant state primary school.

“I want for your children what I have for my own, because no child in Britain should be born to have a second-rate education.”

Mr Cameron is targeting the country’s 500 worst schools and believes that the proposal will help up to 100,000 children.

But Jo Garton, head of Bridle-wood Primary School and president of Swindon’s NAHT, said the measures could have a detrimental effect on teachers.

“I think we already have a very regulated system in place through the Ofsted framework which allows any teacher that isn’t cutting the mustard to be removed,” she said. “I’m not sure these extra powers are necessary.”

Ms Garton feels that if the proposals are introduced it will deter aspiring assistant and deputies from making the step up.

She said: “Unfortunately, we get into a football manager syndrome with heads and I don’t think the best answer is always to keep changing.

“Turning a school round takes time – it isn’t a five-minute job.

“Recruiting headteachers is very challenging, as it is rare that we’ll ever get more than two or three apply for roles in this area, so Mr Cameron might put even more off here.

“I think it would certainly stop assistants and deputies from wanting to be heads.”