A general election is fast approaching, and the three main political parties have released their manifestos ahead of polling day (4 July).

Regarding education, key issues being discussed on the campaign trail include teacher pay, recruitment and retention, private schools, the future of Ofsted and plans for curriculum and qualification reform.

Some experts have warned that education may not be a key election issue, with the economy, NHS and immigration instead taking centre stage.

However, the manifestos contain plenty of detail on what each party is pledging for schools, should it be elected - with a recent poll revealing which education policies were the most popular among voters.

Click on the links below to go straight to summaries of the three main parties’ manifesto pledges:

• What are the Conservatives’ education policies?
• What are Labour’s education policies?
• What are the Lib Dems’ education policies?

What are the Conservatives’ education policies?

The Conservatives’ election manifesto upholds the party’s previous commitment to introduce the Advanced British Standard (ABS) as a new post-16 qualification - a policy first unveiled by leader Rishi Sunak last autumn.

The ABS would be brought in over the next decade to replace A levels and T levels, with the aim of students studying maths and English in some form up to the age of 18.

Curriculum-wise, the manifesto also includes a pledge to mandate two hours of physical education every week in primary and secondary schools.

Other headline manifesto promises include protecting “day-to-day” school spending in real terms per pupil and tackling the current school workforce crisis by “expanding the recruitment and retention premium and reducing workload” - including a pledge to offer tax-free bonuses to teachers in priority areas and key Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) and technical subjects.

Two key issues that the government has chosen to focus on in the past year - a crackdown on phones in schools and the teaching of relationships and sex education (RSE) - have also made it into the Tory manifesto.

The party has pledged to put recent guidance on banning mobile phones during the school day on a statutory footing. There is also a plan for new legislation to make it clear that “parents have a right to see what their child is being taught in school” - this builds on the already updated RSE guidance, which introduced age limits on what children should be taught.

Read more: the Conservatives’ education policies

What are Labour’s education policies?

Labour’s general election manifesto does not include any major new education policies, but it does reaffirm several pledges that have been set out previously.

One of Labour’s headline promises is to recruit 6,500 new expert teachers in key shortage subjects, as well as to support areas that face recruitment challenges and to tackle staff retention issues.

Arguably, Labour’s most high-profile education policy is its pledge to apply 20 per cent VAT to private schools, which has been met with concerns from the independent sector. The party plans to end business rates relief for private schools, too, and use the funds raised for state-school spending.

The manifesto reaffirms the party’s ambition to reform Ofsted, replacing single-word inspection judgements with a school scorecard and introducing multi-academy trust inspections. Labour plans to bring in an annual safeguarding check, which would also look at attendance and off-rolling.

Labour has also pledged to expand the number of primary school-based nurseries and free breakfast clubs, as well as improve the quality of maths teaching in nurseries and primaries. Writing for Tes in July 2023, shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said that the early years are key to her vision for education.

The party has promised an “expert-led review” of curriculum and assessment. And using funding gained by ending private schools’ tax breaks, it plans to boost access to mental health support for young people, with specialist mental health professionals in every school.

Read more: Labour’s education policies

What are the Liberal Democrats’ education policies?

The Liberal Democrats have pledged to increase per-pupil school funding above the rate of inflation every year in their election manifesto, For a Fair Deal.

In terms of workforce funding, the party is proposing more money for teacher training and CPD. It plans to reform the teacher pay review body to make it “properly” independent of government - and to fully fund any recommended pay rises.

The Lib Dems have said that increasing the pupil premium and eligibility for free school meals (FSM) are among their priorities. Specifically, the party is proposing that pupil premium funding be extended to cover the education of 16- to 18-year-olds, and for students eligible for FSM to be automatically enrolled.

Similarly to Labour, the party is committed to putting a qualified mental health professional in every school and says it is interested in a scorecard approach for Ofsted. On private schools, though, the Lib Dems don’t support Labour’s tax policy - although they would support a review of independent schools’ charitable status.

On qualifications, the party wants to set up a cross-party commission with input from teachers to look at curriculum and exam reform. It promises to improve the quality of vocational education, include arts subjects in the English Baccalaureate and expand the provision of extracurricular activities. It is also pledging a “tutoring guarantee” for disadvantaged pupils.

The Lib Dems plan to establish a new national body for special educational needs and disabilities to fund support for children with high needs, and to increase funding to reduce the amount that schools pay towards the cost of a child’s education, health and care plan.

Read more: the Liberal Democrats’ education policies