Westminster Academy has welcomed a rather unusual supply teacher to one of its classrooms, in the form of Secretary of State for Children, School and Families Ed Balls.
The Schools Secretary got a taste of today's
teaching jobs when he accepted an invitation to teach a class of 28 pupils aged 11 and 12 for a day, as part of the Teach First charity's campaign to encourage more graduates to seek
education recruitment.
When asked to rate Mr Balls' supply teacher abilities, one pupil told the BBC: "He did have a lot of control of the classroom but not completely.
"On a scale of one to five I'd have to give him a four."
Mr Balls' lesson plan was centred on the theme of conflict and resolution, and saw him challenge pupils to write an inspirational speech in the style of Martin Luther King, according to the broadcaster.
Several government ministers have formerly worked in teaching jobs in England, including Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office Alan Campbell.
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