EDUCATION Secretary Ruth Kelly was jeered and accused of "patronising" head teachers today during angry exchanges on her plans for school reforms.

The minister was given just a few seconds of lukewarm applause after making a speech in which she appealed to heads to work with the government.

She told the Secondary Heads Association annual conference in Brighton that the government's reforms to teachers' working conditions had given heads the resources and freedom they need.

But the audience of 450 heads and deputy heads disagreed, interrupting her during a question and answer session and shouting: "No it hasn't".

After several seconds of jeering and laughter, Ms Kelly resumed her answer.

Experience

During the question and answer session after Ms Kelly's speech, several teachers attacked her refusal to back the Tomlinson plans for replacing A-levels and GCSEs with a new diploma.

David Peck, of Mosely School in Birmingham, also criticised what he called Ms Kelly's lack of experience and accused her of being "patronising".

He said: "Members of the Tomlinson committee had an enormous amount of experience in education - with respect far more than you."

Ms Kelly has only been Education Secretary since December when she was promoted in the reshuffle sparked by David Blunkett's resignation as Home Secretary.

Mr Peck attacked the minister for saying in her speech that schools must listen more to the opinions of parents.

"I feel somewhat patronised at being told I need to start thinking about things I have been doing and working at very hard for many years," he said.