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A headteacher has won internet fame by refusing to allow his local MP on a school visit because of Tory 'attacks' on education.

Colin Harris told Mirror Online he was fed up of meddling ministers after spending 20 years in charge of Warren Park Primary in Havant, Hampshire.

The 58-year-old sent a blunt open letter to Tory MP Alan Mak after the Parliamentary newcomer offered to visit his pupils.

First published by the Times Educatonal Supplement , it has now been shared across social media by teachers sick of Tory reforms.

It declared: "Under the coalition government and ongoing to the present time, there has been an unprecedented attack on our wonderful profession.

"I have worked for and supported this profession for the last 37 years in what I hope is considered to be a successful way.

"Under Mr Gove we saw the rise of divisive policies which ensured we created true isolation for teaching.

"These policies have led to thousands of teachers wanting to leave teaching with little hope of replacing either their number or their quality and experience."

Granddad-of-two Colin does not have Facebook, so the first he knew of the internet storm was when more than 20 e-mails poured into his inbox today.

He told Mirror Online the letter from Mr Mak on October 2 was the final straw after similar requests earlier this year.

Mr Harris claimed the MP sent him a suggested 'itinerary' and offered to give the pupils 'certificates' to celebrate meeting their local MP.

(Image: PA)

"When I read this what I immediately thought was, why isn't he phoning up a double outstanding school and asking 'how did you do it' rather than all of this?" he said.

On Tory reforms he added: "If you are continually changing things how can you honestly believe you're going to make them better?

"I know how hard my staff work and I know how hard the education profession as a whole works yet we're hearing none of it.

"All we get from the government is anti-education."

'I for one am fed up!' - Mr Harris' letter in full

(Image: Antenna)

Thank you for your letter dated 2 October offering to visit Warren Park Primary School.

Unfortunately, I have real reservations about such a visit on several levels.

Under the coalition government and ongoing to the present time, there has been an unprecedented attack on our wonderful profession. I have worked for and supported this profession for the last 37 years in what I hope is considered to be a successful way.

Under Mr Gove [the previous education secretary, Michael Gove], we saw the rise of divisive policies which ensured we created true isolation for teaching. These policies have led to thousands of teachers wanting to leave teaching with little hope of replacing either their number or their quality and experience.

My views on academies, free schools, lack of funding, assessment, Ofsted, pay rises, curriculum reform and the demise of local authorities will, of course, be different to yours. However, does it really matter? We have no forum to actually get people to listen to us, as we are now a true political football to be knocked around for the pleasure of both the media and the government at the expense of the future of our children.

I for one am fed up with it and so thank you for showing an interest, but I have to decline the visit until such time as the government really and truly cares about the future of education.