A big part of this has involved reducing central government prescription for all schools to make heads' and teachers' lives easier and give them the space to focus on what really matters.

Overall, our vision for the future is of a self-improving network of schools, innovating and engaging, competing and collaborating, teaching and training, for the benefit of all our children.

And yet there is a perception by some that my department isn't especially concerned about such things. That we care more about Tennyson than technology. That our interest is in Ibsen, not iTunes. That we're more Kubla Khan than Khan Academy. This couldn't be further from the truth. I am absolutely committed to ensuring that our school system not only prepares pupils for this changing world, but also embraces the technological advances which are transforming education. My department is thinking hard about this and we'll be saying more in the new year.