Our top priority was, is and always will be education, education, education. To overcome decades of neglect and make Britain a learning society, developing the talents and raising the ambitions of all our young people.
At a good school children gain the basic tools for life and work.
But they ought also to learn the joy of life: the exhilaration of music, the excitement of sport, the beauty of art, the magic of science.
And they learn the value of life: what it is to be responsible citizens who give something back to their community.
So a good school for every child is our mission ? not just the few, as in the past.
Tony Blair, Labour's Education Manifesto, 2001
How magical was this speech? Long gone are the days of "Education, Education, Education." Where education policy used to be at the forefront of politics, it seems to have fallen off a cliff edge. There is no real focus on it at all from the government and we are left picking up the pieces from a fractured, mismanaged Department for Education. The fact we have had more Education Secretaries than I have had showers this year doesn't help with creating a cohesive, well thought out strategy. The government thought they had something when they issued the White Paper, but that was subsequently ripped apart and what we eventually get will not be anything like the paper we saw.
There has been a vacuum in leadership for education for a long time, and this needs to be rectified so that schools can recover from COVID and make the improvements needed so all children can thrive in the system. At the moment, too many children are failed - not by the schools but by the government. Buildings are crumbling, resources are few and far between, a work force has been ground down and there is just no money to make improvements.
I have been awaiting the Labour plan on education to see what we could expect if we have a change of government. It is quite a hefty document, so I am glad that Schools Week condensed it for us into 20 key points (the article can be accessed here: https://schoolsweek.co.uk/major-labour-review-calls-for-creative-curriculum-and-less-exams-focus/)
The key points that stood out for me were:
A National Curriculum Authority or Agency which draws in “broad expertise for reshaping the curriculum and providing a modernised syllabus which is free from party political interference”
All schools should follow a “reformed, creative and forward looking curriculum”
A national review of Ofsted to ensure that “the inspection and accountability regime makes the most positive and constructive contribution possible to the education system as a whole”
A gradual introduction of up to one academic term sabbaticals for teachers for every five years of service. This would “link teachers with the opportunity of other work placements, research opportunities or overseas exchange programmes” once workforce planning allows for sufficient capacity within the school system
For those with a declared disability, introduce a “passport” scheme for all key training and learning opportunities. This would begin with pupils with a Education, Health and Care Plans whilst in school, then providing for automatic entitlement to the Disabled Students Allowance, and then Access to Work once they are seeking, or enter into, formal employment
Firstly, I have felt for a long time that education is one of the areas which should be free from political interference - particularly the curriculum. The idea of a Curriculum Agency, who bring the best minds of how children learn and what they should learn is exciting. This should not be changed on a whim based on who is in charge (Think the Rose review and the Gove monstrosity we now have). By developing an Agency, schools will be able to work towards a well thought out curriculum that will not be changed regularly.
Secondly, and I know this will annoy some people, the idea of creating a "creative, forward looking curriculum" is right in my opinion. I am always of the opinion knowledge without skills is pointless as you cannot apply your knowledge, but skills without knowledge is equally is rubbish. There needs to be a real blend of the two. I read this as developing skills in children, but not removing the core components of knowledge. Again, with a curriculum agency, this could be balanced by using experts from across the sector to ensure it is right.
Next, the review of Ofsted is key. The current system we now have is broken. They do not know what they stand for. They have become too policticised. The system is too punitive and too high stakes. This is not a blog about how Ofsted can be reformed - but it is great to see that it is on the agenda.
Moving on, this next point is very exciting. The idea of a termly sabbatical every five years to experience something new is just amazing. In any walk of life you can get stale doing the same things over and over again. How great would it be to get out of our bubble and see how other people work? This would need funding, it would need careful planning and it would need to be suitable so that it doesn't affect the children, but if this can be pulled off, it would be brilliant.
Finally, it was great to see a renewed focus on children with SEND having further opportunities. The passport idea is intriguing, and I would love to see how this would be planned for, but anything that removed barriers for these young people is a win in my eyes.
So, am I excited by this report? I think I am, but as always the proof is in the pudding. At the moment, this is a report with recommendations. How many of these will be picked up? How many will be affordable? Will the money be put into education to allow all of this to happen as well allowing us to make up for lost funding for the last generation of children? Only time, and a General Election, will tell.