It is difficult to grasp what the Conservatives would do to education if they win the general election. There have been some rather reactionary statements – especially from Shadow Schools Secretary Michael Gove – but there is no great clarity when it comes to the educational principles behind their policies.
“Raising educational standards for all” is a mantra used by all three main political parties, but the key question they need to answer is how. It is essential that politicians understand the current position. As things stand, all schools manage themselves and have done so since 1988 when Margaret Thatcher’s Government introduced local management. Local authorities have powers to intervene, but only in specific circumstances – such as when a school fails an Ofsted inspection. Academy schools have much the same powers as any other school, except when it comes to admissions. The choices they are able to make reduce parental ones. Allowing all schools to become academies would not raise standards and would be unpopular with many Tory-controlled councils. And what will be the solution to a failing academy school? In fact, standards in most schools have been rising every year for some time, although it seems the Conservative Party has yet to realise this.
The Tories say they want to follow the Swedish example and allow anyone to set up a new school. This is a diversion. The reality is that any group of parents in this country who want set up a school are able to do this under existing legislation. There are few instances of this.
What is emerging from the Conservatives is a collection of rather odd ideas. Most centre on schools and there is little reference to policies relating to adults, further education or the skills agenda.
The grants for poorer 16-19-year-old students, introduced by Labour in 2001, would be abolished under the Tories. This is in spite of the success of these grants in improving the recruitment and retention of students from poorer backgrounds.
The Tories would take away the right of parents to appeal against their child being expelled from school. In consequence, the courts would be far more likely to become involved in such cases.
According to the Tories, examinations have become easier. Presumably they want to make them more difficult, which suggests that more students would get lower grades.
There are hints that university fees will rise considerably. If that happens, the cost of loans will increase and the target of 50 per cent of young people being able to go to university will not be reached.
The Tories say it is essential to increase parental choice. However, that can only be accomplished by increasing the number of surplus places in schools. And that is an expensive solution.
Teachers’ pay and conditions would be left to individual schools to decide. No one should be surprised if the number of cases referred to employment tribunals increases as a result.
The Conservatives seem wedded to the idea of a separation between academic courses and vocational ones, in spite of many employers arguing that this is outmoded in the 21st century.
While school budgets have increased considerably under Labour, a David Cameron government would probably seek to cut back on new school building programmes. And, for some inexplicable reason, the Tories want to scrap Sure Start.
Although they have pledged to spend more money on adult education, the Tories do not seem to realise the full seriousness of the situation. More than 20 per cent of adults have literacy or numeracy problems.
Thanks to Labour, primary school classes are now smaller and limited to 30 pupils from ages five to seven. There are a record number of teaching assistants in schools. Britain’s teachers are now among the best paid in Europe. Exam results are getting better every year at every level. Early years provision has been greatly improved and the new diplomas are opening up new opportunities for 14-19-year-olds in terms of job prospects and the development of essential skills.
On all this, the Tories are strangely quiet. Their policies are dominated by their schools agenda and they seem keen to end the strategic involvement of local government in education. In contrast, Labour is stressing the importance of lifelong learning and the different needs of adults at different times in their lives. Education has to be about much more than what we do before we go to work. It has to be available to people throughout their lives in both formal and informal settings.
The 2010 election gives Labour the chance to stress the significant differences between the parties and show why people should continue to trust Labour as the party that believes in educational opportunities for everyone.
Graham Lane is a former chair of the Local Government Association’s education committee
