Coaker is a member of the Socialist Education Association (SEA) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT), both of which have openly criticised the academies programme. Gove claimed that this warrants serious concern.
He said: "Parents should be worried if the new schools minister supports a group that is against academies despite their success in raising standards for the poorest children. We need to accelerate reform of our education system not put the process into reverse".
But Coaker fiercely denied Gove's claims, describing them as "nonsensical". He said: "I'm really looking forward to continuing the acceleration of the academies programme which Ed Balls, Jim Knight and Andrew Adonis have taken forward in recent years. I joined the SEA many years ago when I was a teacher because I passionately believe in breaking the link between poverty and educational attainment. I'm also still a member of the NUT, but it won't surprise people to know that I don't agree with all of its policies either."
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