Teach Secondary Issue 13.6

Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner, Bridget Phillipson. All are key figures in the recently elected Labour administration, and have – in striking contrast to many high profile figures in past Conservative administrations – frequently spoken of their working class backgrounds, and howmuch they relied on public provision to help them get on in life. Phillipson, the newly appointed Education Secretary, has highlighted on numerous occasions the ‘brilliant state school’ that propelled her, a child brought up in poverty by a single mother, first to Oxford, then to frontline politics and now into government. Within days of taking office, she released a statement announcing her wish to work closely with teachers, leaders and school staff; a marked change of tone from the recent slew of Conservative Ministers who often seemed permanently at odds with almost everyone in the sector, bar a few influential MAT leaders. TheVATexemption Since early July, Labour has been pressing ahead with its tightly costed manifesto pledges – which notably included removing the VAT exemption on private school fees, and using the resultant money to recruit 6,500 teachers into state schools and improve mental health provision. The run-up to the general election saw relentless campaigning against this policy, jointly led by private school parents and influential groups within the sector, such as the Independent Schools Council. Hardly a week passed without some article in the centre-right press alleging any number of harmful impacts that it would have. Phillipson herself was even accused of being ‘Very chippy’ about private education in emails leaked to The Guardian (see bit. ly/ts136-MB1). Publicly, at least, she wisely took no notice. Phillipson has also moved fast in other areas, having announced plans to review existing curriculum and assessment arrangements, and abolish Ofsted’s hugely unpopular single-word judgements in favour of more detailed ‘school report cards’. She has also resolved to oversee the opening of thousands more nurseries and the creation of breakfast clubs in every school (see bit.ly/ts136-MB2 ) Anew regime The DfE has further pledged to phase out the use of isolation booths, excessive exclusions and strict behaviour regimes in schools (see bit.ly/ts136-MB3) , while Chancellor Rachel Reeves has hinted that the Treasury might be able to fund an above inflation pay rise for teachers, whose pay has been kept down for so long (see bbc.in/46lH9pR) . So far, so good. Of course, by definition, honeymoons don’t last, with this new government likely to start facing severe challenges as early as this autumn. Given its commitment to tight spending constraints, it’s hard to see how Labour will solve some perennial problems, such as the crisis in SEND provision, or the condition of our crumbling school buildings. Many within the Labour family have also expressed disappointment that the incoming administration clearly doesn’t intend to dismantle the dramatic structural reforms brought in by Michael Gove from 2010. As most readers will know, these included mass academisation, the subsequent consolidation of MATs and a corresponding running-down of LA involvement in education. Establishment advice Labour also seems to be relying on the advice of the existing ‘educational establishment’, many of whose members rose to prominence during the Conservative years, while sidelining individuals able to bring expertise and ideas from its own side (see bit.ly/ ts136-MB4). Nor do there seem to be any plans for tackling the ongoing grammar/ comprehensive divide in several counties. How, one wonders, can an administration pledging support for social mobility and improving the wellbeing of working class children continue to maintain a system that ruthlessly favours relatively affluent and privately tutored children through the 11 plus test? Regardless, however, it’s clear that many within the Labour party – including several at the top of government – remain strongly committed to comprehensive education and privately opposed to grammars. Could this new Labour administration, emboldened by power, eventually decide to follow the advice recently given by one school head and finally complete the ‘unfinished revolution’ of the last Labour government by phasing out selective education altogether (see bit.ly/ ts136-MB5)? Such an outcome doesn’t – yet – seem impossible... The honeymoon effect following Labour’s decisive victory in July is strong – and it’s already having a major impact on education in England... Melissa Benn Melissa Benn (@Melissa_Benn) is the author of Life Lessons: The Case for a National Education Service , and is a Visiting Professor at York St John university 19 teachwire.net/secondary S C H O O L O F T H O U G H T