Labour’s approach to education is firmly focussed on addressing the missions set out by Keir Starmer, particularly those around the economy, getting Britain building again and breaking down barriers to opportunity. Labour views the education system as crucial to ensuring people have the right skills to help rebuild the economy.
Make no mistake, a potential incoming Labour Government would make major reforms to the education system, the largest shift in education policy since Gove’s interventions.
Labour has set out the most detail on its plans for childcare, schools, and skills reform, with the strength of the party’s relationship with teaching unions evident in the policy platform, and to date the party has shared less detail on its plans for Higher Education.
Schools and Early Years
When it comes to schools, an incoming Labour government is committed to establishing a ‘broader and richer’ curriculum, with a strong core of literacy and numeracy alongside a renewed focus on sports, arts, digital skills, speaking and listening skills. Labour would look to recruit 6,500 more teachers, ensure all new teachers are qualified and put in place a Teacher Training Entitlement. In relation to quality and assessment, one-word Ofsted judgements would be replaced by report cards with annual checks on safeguarding and attendance, regional teams would be established to drive better outcomes and multi-academy trusts would be inspected as well as schools. A new national voice would be established for school support staff. Meanwhile, employability would be supported by students being given improved careers guidance and two weeks of work experience. The Party’s position on VAT for private school fees is already having an impact on how this part of the sector organises itself. Labour has a commitment to increasing standards in early education, setting up more breakfast clubs, providing more mental health support in schools and improving how data is used to pick up special educational needs and disabilities.
The influence of teachers, Labour’s heartland supporters, can be seen in this agenda. The party’s strong focus on education is likely to benefit Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidates at the next election, given Lodestone’s Election Hub and MRP data highlight the importance of this issue in many of the key constituencies Labour would need to win.
There are a number of issues where Labour has not yet defined its approach such as EdTech, tackling historic education PFI projects coming to an end, international schools and some elements of the culture wars. For those looking to reshape the policy platform, or influence the areas that are yet to be defined, it is advisable to explain how your approach would help Labour tackle its national missions.