Labour’s first 100 days in office have offered hope for schools and education professionals across the country.
After years of strained relations between the teaching profession and the government, it’s heartening to see some genuine progress in key areas.
Yet there is much work ahead if we are to build a truly world-class education system that serves every child. Here are five key areas where action is needed.
1. Teacher pay
The 5.5 per cent above-inflation pay award is significant. Accepting the recommendations of the independent School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) is a positive step. Just as important was the government’s decision to bring forward additional funding to help cover a significant proportion of the award.
However, we must also acknowledge that teacher pay has been falling in real terms since 2010. We need to see a series of above-inflation pay awards over the coming years to restore teachers’ salaries to the levels of a decade ago.
This is vital if the government is to turn the tide on the worst retention and recruitment crisis in living memory and meet its aspiration of recruiting 6,500 new teachers.
2. Ofsted
Scrapping single-word Ofsted judgments has long been a priority for NAHT, and we welcome Labour’s decision to make this change, which simply would not have happened under the previous government. However, this is just the start.
A fundamentally different approach to inspection and school accountability must be designed in partnership with the profession.
The Christine Gilbert report made clear that reform needs to go beyond simply how the inspectorate reports - Ofsted’s entire culture needs to change.
What we are talking about here is root-and-branch reform, not simply superficial changes or an “evolution” of existing methods.
3. Curriculum and assessment
Labour has also made early welcome moves on curriculum and assessment, such as scrapping the need for students to memorise formulae for GCSE maths exams. This is a sensible change, but again it’s only the beginning.
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The current curriculum is far too overcrowded and places an enormous burden on both students and teachers. We need to see a more streamlined curriculum that allows teachers to focus on fewer things in greater depth. Let’s hope the curriculum review recognises this.
Similarly, we need to see a reduction in the quantity of high-stakes testing and the focus on short-term memory, in favour of deeper learning.
The previous government seemed obsessed with adding more and more tests for each pupil, particularly at primary school, and it’s time for a shift towards a system that prioritises learning over testing.
4. Funding
School leaders appreciate the dismal fiscal situation Labour has inherited, but some aspects of school funding are reaching a critical state. Labour should address this as a priority in the Budget.
The most acute pressure on schools concerns special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The F40 campaign, which NAHT supports, estimates an additional £4.6 billion in SEND funding is needed annually just to meet current needs. Without this investment, the system is at risk of collapse.
Falling roll numbers also pose another financial challenge for schools. However, this could be an opportunity as, rather than reducing spending as numbers fall, Labour could at least maintain it, thereby increasing per-pupil spending and protecting many schools at risk of closure.
5. Buildings
We cannot ignore the dire state of many school buildings. Labour should urgently target capital funding to restore all schools to at least a “satisfactory” condition.
Too many of our school buildings are unsafe, with known risks such as asbestos and reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) posing real dangers.
Longer-term, we need a comprehensive school rebuilding programme to address these structural risks and ensure our schools are fit for purpose. Such a programme could even help drive the economic growth this government seeks.
Funding alone won’t solve every issue, but without targeted financial support, children with special needs will continue to be failed by the system. Labour may not be responsible for the current situation, but they must recognise how severe it has become.
Let’s co-create the future
Labour’s first 100 days have shown a willingness to listen - a welcome change in tone from government. The next phase must now be about working together.
The teaching profession doesn’t just want to be consulted; we want to co-create the policies that will shape education for the years to come. A meaningful, two-way dialogue between the government and the profession is essential if we are to achieve lasting change.
Labour’s early actions are encouraging, but the real work is just beginning.
Paul Whiteman is general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union
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