THE removal of Michael Gove as Education Secretary will be welcomed by teachers across the region, according to the North-East’s biggest teaching union.

Vin Wynne, North-East regional organiser for the NUT, said the replacement of Mr Gove by former Treasury Minister Nicky Morgan in the cabinet reshuffle, would be a cause for celebration.

“The news will be welcome in staff rooms up and down the region,” said Mr Wynne.

“The profession as a whole is delighted. This reflects the extent to which he has lost the support and trust of the profession.

"His stubbornness and unwillingness to enter into any meaningful talks with the teaching unions over the last four years has not helped.”

The NUT official said Mr Gove had presided over an increase in the average working hours of primary school teachers to 60 hours a week.

He said the teaching unions will be seeking an early meeting with Nicky Morgan and would hope for a much more positive relationship.

Beccy Earnshaw, director of Schools North East, which speaks for 1,300 state and independent schools in the region, said: “He was the longest serving Education Secretary for quite a while and he certainly made an impression.

"Opinion will be divided on his legacy and it will be interesting to see which bits will be remembered.”

She said the amount of change under Mr Gove “has been a real problem for a lot of schools” but he undoubtedly had “a genuine passion and desire to improve the system".

While Mr Gove’s treatment of much of the state education system has been criticised he also introduced the pupil premium, which many people think is a good thing, she added.

“He has changed the education landscape. It looks quite different compared to five years ago,” said Ms Earnshaw.