Gillian Keegan says she would have ‘punched’ rude Ofsted inspectors

Education secretary rebuked by Ofsted chief and Unison after comment during speech at ASCL union conference

The education secretary, Gillian Keegan, told headteachers she would be tempted to punch any Ofsted inspectors who were rude during school visits – earning a rebuke from school unions and Ofsted’s chief inspector.

Speaking to the Association of School and College Leaders’ (ASCL) annual conference in Liverpool, Keegan said she had been “delighted” to hear that Ofsted inspectors had been instructed to treat staff in schools with greater respect.