The current news cycle is dominated by the upcoming general election, with each of the three main parties’ education policies under close scrutiny. While all manifestos contain some forward-thinking ideas, there are also some questionable proposals that require further consideration.
The Labour party’s plan to provide free school lunches to primary children is a step in the right direction, while the Conservative party’s support for free nursery care for preschool children – although concerns around top-up fees persist – is commendable. The Liberal Democrats’ commitment to phasing out university tuition fees is also a positive move.
However, some proposals are less thought through. For example, Labour’s proposal to teach Mandarin in primary schools is questionable given our history of failing to teach foreign languages effectively. It remains to be seen whether this proposal will be viable. Similarly, the Conservative party’s encouragement of new schools run by parents could lead to overprovision and depletion of resources in existing schools.
The Liberal Democrats’ promise of funding for small classes is also questionable, as research shows that schools benefit from flexibility in how they approach teaching. The focus should be on ensuring that the education system as a whole is of a high standard and accessible to all.
Rather than focusing on education, a new government – whether a single party or coalition – should be prioritising regulating big business and banks, investing in infrastructure and protecting citizens’ welfare and liberties.
Here are ten points that should be a priority for any government:
1. Establish a high-quality education "system" rather than a hierarchy of schools.
2. Invest in underprivileged learners to reduce the achievement gap.
3. Invest in high-quality, universal, free nursery provision.
4. Invest in and support teachers as a solution to improving education.
5. Limit the national curriculum to core subjects.
6. Restore assessment to its role in teaching and learning, and stop league tables.
7. Limit inspections to failing institutions to focus on improvement.
8. Encourage pilot experiments in teaching and learning to foster innovation.
9. Provide additional support to further education and part-time university students.
10. Establish a democratically elected standing commission to consider and recommend changes to the education system beyond party politics.
In conclusion, it is important to acknowledge that change will not be easy given the vested interests that have developed around schooling. However, a commitment to these ten points should lead to a fairer, higher quality education system in a less greedy society.