Winchester College head criticises ‘patronising' Phillipson
Elizabeth Stone took aim at the Education Secretary's policies, saying the amount of red tape in education was 'so excessive'.
On Wednesday, Ms Phillipson released a video paying tribute to the profession by giving a 'massive thank you' to teachers across Britain.
In it, she spoke to a number of primary school children, asking them who their favourite teacher was.
The video finished with her saying how she 'knows the difference that brilliant teachers make' and how the Government's recruitment drive would 'set up all of our children to achieve and thrive'.
"What difference do you think teachers make?"
This #ThankATeacherDay Education Secretary @bphillipsonMP asked pupils at Lordship Farm Primary School about their brilliant teachers.
We're getting more teachers in classrooms, supporting children, through our Plan for Change. pic.twitter.com/5wmN9BXgGk
— Department for Education (@educationgovuk) June 18, 2025
The day of recognition was also announced in an email alongside a video montage featuring a host of famous faces – including the likes of Dame Helen Mirren, Alan Titchmarsh, Michael Morpurgo and Ms Phillipson herself – who all thanked an old teacher.
In her accompanying email, Ms Phillipson wrote: 'Think about the young lives you're helping to shape. Think about the brighter futures you're helping to build.
'And know that you have the thanks of the entire country – today, and every day.'
However, its release was criticised by Ms Stone, the head of the independent boarding school in Hampshire.
She labelled it 'marketing' from a 'political leader whose work is not exactly making the lives of thousands of pupils and teachers easier'.
The Australian teacher claimed that serious professionals would be 'unmoved' by the DfE's message of appreciation.
Posting on social media, she said: 'I get it. Not a lot of money to spend on education, so perhaps it's worth attempting to raise morale by emailing a video.
'Even if some find it patronising, there's no real harm done.'
She continued: 'But here's another idea that requires little [to] no government spending and could really make a difference to teachers: slash the layers of over-regulation and the culture of excessive compliance and risk-aversion in schools.'
Ms Stone said teachers would love to be paid more, but would like 'workload relief' just as much, and in some cases more.
'The regulatory/compliance regime in education is now so excessive that it acts, in my opinion, to the detriment of the profession and of the children we serve,' she added.
'Without spending a penny on buildings or salaries, this government could bring about massive improvement for the profession.'
The Government is embroiled in a High Court battle over its VAT policy after parent groups argued the tax raid is discriminatory.
Earlier this year, the Independent Schools Council accused ministers of having 'underestimated' the impact of its controversial VAT tax policy, which the Government hopes will raise £1.8 billion a year by the end of the decade.
High Court documents obtained by The Telegraph previously revealed that Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, was warned Labour's levy on fees could cause an additional 100 private schools to shut over the next three years – something the Government had never admitted in public.
Ministers toyed with a later start date for the tax but ultimately decided to go with the course of action labelled by civil servants as 'the most disruptive' to 'maximise revenue'.
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