When I delivered the news to my students, they were nonplussed. But when colleagues heard the very same news, I swear I saw one of them cry.
The significance of Michael Gove exiting the Department for Education (DfE) and being demoted to the role of chief whip – a position that doesn't even carry full membership to the Cabinet Office – should not be underestimated. Make no mistake, this is a massive day for teachers up and down the land.
While it would be naive to believe that a change in the top seat at the DfE will bring any significant change in policy in the short term, the real significance of Gove's departure is that the symbol of all that is wrong with modern politics has been dispatched. Gove was dogmatic and ideologically driven; a politician who claimed vehemently to speak for the people but only listened to himself.
There is a part of me that feels sad he is gone. He was, after all, a writer's dream with all his sharp soundbites and blood boiling rhetoric. As recently as last week, he produced another verbal gem with his claim that only bad teachers disagreed with his policies. If this was the case, there appears to be very few "outstanding" educators left in the country.
In Gove the education establishment had a person to focus all their anger and frustration on like never before. When he rocked up at the DfE with his ideas for education reform you could see that he was on collision course with, well, everyone. He took no notice of people who disagreed with his reforms, and quickly dispatched those who disagreed.
Gove didn't always play by Westminster rules, fighting against the civil service who he thought worked too slowly. But like it or not, he got things done. Ironically, we deride our modern politicians for speaking too much and doing very little. Gove was not your typical politician in that sense: he did what he said and then some.
It would seem he has now finally been stopped, for now but I cannot help but look at him and think of Frank Underwood, the fictional character in HBO's House of Card's; Gove is down but very much not out. It will be interesting to see what happens to him from now until the general election next year.
Nicky Morgan doesn't have long to make her mark and in all likelihood she won't rock the good ship education too much. If the Tories win the next election, will she even retain her position or will we see Elizabeth Truss, who will replace Owen Patterson as environment secretary, step into the role? While we all rejoice, with Gove could it be a case of better the devil you know?
I bear no ill will towards Gove – he was a worthy adversary and someone who should be respected for getting things done. The people who should have feelings of dislike towards him are the thousands of children whose lives could be irreparably damaged because of his reforms.
But for now, let us allow the dust to settle and take some time on Friday at 3pm to toast the man, and bid him good riddance.
