Education Policy landscape. March 2010

1. Education Policy landscape. March 2010

2. The Tory tomtom • Two assumptions • Political direction will change • The belt will tighten • Conservatives see public sector reform as critical to them now as industrial reform was to Thatcher • The Conservative Policy Review process based on 3 principles: decentralisation; accountability; transparency • Conservative campaign building around 6 themes: dealing with the debt; boosting enterprise; backing the NHS; raising standards in schools; making Britain the most family friendly country in Europe; changing politics • Labour adopting 5: jobs of the future, health services, education services anti social behaviour, tackling the recession • Lib-Dems going for 4 ‘fair’ pledges: fair taxes; a fair start for children at school; a fair, sustainable economy; fairer political system • Battlegrounds: timing of cuts; family/marriage; social mobility; Lambeth v Barnet; how best to clean up politics

3. The political picture Key Papers • Labour: 21st c schools. Going for Growth: Our Future Prosperity • Tory: School manifesto. Get Britain Working Key speeches • Lab: Mandelson’s Sept 09 ‘Progress’ speech. Brown’s Feb ’10 spring event speech • Tory: Cameron’s June 09 ‘quango’ speech. Gove’s Nov 09 CPS speech Key words • Progressive, tough, standards, rigour, choice, parents, local, employers, academy, apprenticeships, Sweden, technical, fight Key influencers • Lab: IPPR, Balls, Compass, New Statesman, John Lewis, Blair when appropriate • Tory: Reform, CSJ, Freud, Blair, Barnet/Kent, Tory grandees, John Lewis, The Sun Key countries • Canada, Australia, Holland, Sweden, America Key celebs • Labour: Sir Alex • Tory: Carol Vordeman

4. The economic picture Key Papers • ‘Back to Black,’ ‘A Recovery Plan for the UK,’ ‘Skills, Jobs, Growth,’ Key speeches • Labour: Brown’s Nov 09 CBI speech. Darling’s Dec 09 PBR speech • Tory; Osborne’s Conference 09 speech. Hammond’s ‘More for Less’ Nov 09 speech Key words • Austerity/aspiration, priority, responsibility, tough, investment, quango, bureaucracy, incontinence, sensitive Key reviews • Schools funding review • Banks FE fees review • Browne HE fees review • Current Spending Review Key figures • 923,000 • 0.3% • £178bn • £19bn • £135m • 30 • 100

5. Planning for a tighter future DCSF Discussion Paper PBR projections A new Schools Bill, legislating for Pupil/parent guarantees Report card New intervention powers Teacher licences to practice Curriculum/testing New primary curr and KS1 guarantee Year 7 Progress Check Adaptive testing at KS2 Entitlement provision in key subjects Development of the National Curriculum and ‘academic’ core Future of 14-19 reform programme A* and A level future Accountability Select Committee Report Revamping of league tables Refined remit for Ofsted Report Card Critical role for SIPs Stronger role for LAs, parents, SoS Young people Rose, Leahy, Rake, Lambert Jan Guarantee/ YP pledges Select Committee Inquiry 16-24 strategy Landscape UTCs, ‘free’ schools, academies 14-19 planning through CTBs, SRGs Transfer of 16-19 responsibilities Emergence of YPLA, NAS IAG and Connexions Planning for RPA Current schools agenda

6. National skills strategy Creation of new ‘technician’ class Empowered learners through AACS and SAs Simplification of skills system Regional planning through RDAs Industrial active strategy focused on key sectors Expansion of apprenticeship provision Development of new innovation and investment landscape New HE Framework Extended access and more diversity of provision inc FE Focus on high level skills programmes and graduate employability Strengthened quality and course labelling Pre Budget Report £202m for additional 16-18 places Extension of Guarantees Cut back on ‘non essential’ programmes, tightened adult learning budget Skills Investment Strategy Across the board efficiencies and rate reductions Greater use of co-funding and sponsored provision Resource re-direction to high-level and economically valuable priorities Tackling unemployment Growing concerns about youth/graduate figures New YP and graduate Guarantees Transition of TtG and New Deal Dedicated FE ‘NEET’ provision Visions set out in Employment White Paper and ‘Get Britain Working’ Paper Not forgetting Emergence of SFA Willetts FEFC consultation Strategy for 16-24 year olds RPA Delivery Plan TtG Report Current FE and skills agenda

7. HE Strategy Extended access and more diversity of provision Focus on high level skills programmes and graduate employability Strengthened quality and course labelling Taskforce to position UKHE as global leader in online learning Continuing work on widening access Independent review of student finance 2 stage process, potential election issue Given sharper edge following funding context Looking to establish balance in contributions from beneficiaries HEFCE 2010/11 grant letter Shift towards more flexible provision, inc ‘fast-track’ degrees Greater response to higher level skill needs Programme ‘labelling’ pilot by 2011/12 Additional £135m budget cut, of which £51m from teaching grant; all on top of existing 180m efficiencies Anguished reaction from sector, Cambridge entering bonds market Not forgetting HEFCE Report on youth participation trends Knowledge transfer under increased HEIF Undergrad internship scheme to help access into professions Review of postgrad provision Support for STEM provision Coping with increased numbers Current HE agenda

8. Cons education policy. Some specifics • ‘Strong prejudice in favour of a knowledge-based curriculum’ • Core primary curriculum but support Montessori and Steiner models • ‘Overhaul’ of KS2 testing, reading and progress checks • Refocus schools around learning, dismantle extended services model • Emphasis on established core subjects incentivised through distinct points system as part of “overhaul” of National Curriculum • Strong independent regulator, historical online database of exams, ‘academics’ to guarantee of standards • Inspection system re-directed on T/L and on poorly performing schools • Not anti-vocational but keen to simplify and see it add value • Support apprenticeships but only ‘real’ ones • Open out the school system, extended and purer Academy model, independent state school system enshrined in early Schools Bill • Raise the quality and prestige of the teaching profession • Traditional model of colleges supporting skills development and community needs through dedicated funding agency • Skills system goal of ‘one funding body, one audit regime, one improvement body’ • Controlled growth of HE

9. What might be in the first 100 days? • Emergency Growth Budget and CSR announcement • Launch of extensive public sector reform programme • Release heat out of the system with new powers for heads, teachers and parents, less bureaucracy and less interference • Identify ‘worst’ performing schools and put under new management; identify ‘best’ performing schools and grant academy status • Legislate for new ‘free’ school model • Reform of national testing especially reading tests • Develop renewed NEET Strategy • Review local arrangements, move in on some quangos • Introduce tighter budgetary controls and slash vanity projects • Restructure DCSF and BIS • Put machinery in place for new FEFC and funding compact • Establish contracting process for new welfare programmes • Negotiate with the Lib-Dems!