Michael Gove, the education secretary, has labelled the campaigners against turning a school into an academy as "Trots".

Mr Gove delivered his withering verdict at a meeting of the Commons Education Select Committee, where MPs' questions were informed by 5,000 Twitter messages from the public.

Added to this, the education secretary reaffirmed his determination to press ahead with a new performance measure showing the destinations of pupils after leaving school, Brits seeking teaching work may wish to know.

He suggested that the protesters against the academies concept have links to the Socialist Workers Party, describing them as the "enemies of promise".

"It's a pity that the Labour party hasn't spoken out against this Trot campaign," Mr Gove added.

The outspoken remark prompted the committee to suggest that regardless of whether Mr Gove is liked, he has succeeded in provoking plenty of controversy and debate since he assumed his current role in May 2010.