But the government has ordered a review of literacy teaching after a Commons education select committee report in April said a 17% failure rate was "unacceptably high".

BBC: Critics say nationwide school tests are too stressful

The government wanted to "trust" the teaching profession, "not busybody and patronise" it, Mr Gove told the Commons.

BBC: Queen's Speech debate: Education and health

The House of Commons education select committee has today published a report calling for more payment by results in teaching, so that incompetent teachers are not able to hide behind a "rigid and unfair" national pay structure that currently hands bonuses for excellence to more than 90% of teachers.

ECONOMIST: Fixing British education