Responding to equalities minister Kemi Badenoch's letter to Ofsted calling for a snap inspection of an East Sussex school following a reported conversation between a teacher and pupils concerning gender identity, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said: 

“As the Minister for Women and Equalities must surely know, only the Secretary of State for Education has powers to require Ofsted to conduct an inspection. 

"As a minister, Ms Badenoch has a duty of care to weigh her words carefully to ensure the wellbeing of pupils, teachers and school leaders.

"The very last thing that school leaders need is ministers from other departments interfering in the work of schools.

"Due process and the principles of good government are the very least that the sector should expect – not inappropriate interventions fuelled by reports that have now been significantly discredited."