Michael Gove replaced by Nicky Morgan as Education Secretary: Teachers react with unconfined joy on Twitter

Mr Gove has been moved to the position of Chief Whip as part of David Cameron's major Cabinet reshuffle

(Getty)

News that the embattled Education Secretary Michael Gove will be replaced by Nicky Morgan to become "minister for TV" has been met with jubilant cheers from members of the education world across the country.

Mr Gove has consistently faced fierce opposition from teaching unions, who he once controversially dubbed “the blob”, and his time in the post is marked by a spate of strikes and claims that he alienated teachers.

During his four-year stint as Education Secretary, he has overseen the biggest shake-up of England's schools system for decades. He spearheaded the introduction of one of the Conservative's flagship education policies - free schools - and threw the doors open to allow all schools to apply to become academies.

Mr Gove has also never been afraid to court controversy with his policies and incurred the wrath of teaching establishments across the country when it was reported that classics of American literature, including Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird , would be dropped from the English literature GCSE syllabus.

As news of his departure was announced, the education world took to Twitter to describe their reactions, with some reporting teachers dancing around class rooms, popping champagne corks and high-fiving each other in corridors.

The news also provided others with an excuse to re-share a Vine of him falling over and hurriedly jumping back up which went viral in February.

After Ms Morgan's appointment was confirmed, the NUT stressed that it remains "in dispute over the direction of Government policy, with Christine Blower saying: "We are looking for a change in direction from Nicky Morgan."

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) meanwhile said Mr Gove's new appointment showed that "David Cameron has, belatedly, realised that Michael Gove's ideological drive is no substitute for measured, pragmatic reform of the education system".

Dr Bousted also suggested in removing him from the role of Education Secretary, the Prime Minister had concluded "Gove is more of a liability than an asset", adding that the ATL is looking forward to "a more constructive relationship" with Ms Morgan.

In contrast, the Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw appeared shocked as he learnt of Mr Gove's departure during a call-in session on LBC Radio.

"I'm surprised and shocked that this has happened," he said.

"I'm a great admirer of the Secretary of State, I think he's been a transformative and radical minister of education." Sir Michael said that Mr Gove had made some "substantial changes" to education, which would be lasting.

He went on to describe the news as "a bolt out of the blue", and said that he had always got on well with the Education Secretary.