Welcome to a new government and a new era in politics.

We’re optimistic about the road ahead. It is not going to be easy and there are many challenges. But we have been impressed with Labour’s education team in opposition and their genuine commitment to listening to - and understanding - the voice of the profession.

We don’t make the mistake of thinking that we’ll always agree with each other. But we are confident of being able to work together, sensibly and constructively, to develop evidenced and effective policy.

Heaven knows, that is a change that is sorely needed after several years that have felt chaotic and oppositional.

Precise policymaking needed

Ours is a good education system with high standards. Hundreds of thousands of leaders, teachers and support staff put their hearts and souls into making that happen. The majority of children do well and go on to have good lives.

But there are still too many children whose outcomes are not what they should be. That isn’t because of any want of trying by our superb education workforce. On the contrary, it sometimes feels as though the profession is near breaking point owing to the strain of endeavouring to deliver good outcomes with ever-fewer resources.

The reasons are systemic and socio-economic: child poverty; the crisis in special educational needs provision; rising mental health needs; the erosion of family support services; and the loss of hope in communities that feel left behind.

Turning this around is a massive - and cross-departmental - challenge. It will require sufficient resourcing and precise policymaking, which is developed in collaboration with the education sector and professionals in other public services.

But it has to be fixable. We just cannot continue to accept the deep inequalities in our society and their human cost.

Funding for education

I am conscious that when I talk about the requirement for there to be “sufficient resourcing”, this will be the most difficult area of discussion with the new government. I recognise that the current financial circumstances are tight and that spending decisions are not easy.

But education funding at its current level is wholly insufficient and there will have to be a recognition that public services must be better supported.

The first test of this will be the teachers’ pay award for September, which will need to be both fair and fully funded simply to prevent current pressures from worsening further.

In truth, there really is not much prospect of a honeymoon period for the new government in the challenging economic and social climate in which we find ourselves. But my sense is that they are keen to get down to business and deal with the problems that I have outlined here.

And getting down to business is certainly what the profession wants, too. We’re ready and willing to work positively with the new government, on behalf of all children and young people, and particularly those who most need our help.

Together we have a golden opportunity to form a partnership for a brighter future.

Pepe Di’Iasio is general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders

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