Steve Besley's Education Eye: week ending 14 June 2024

It’s been full on this week with each of the major parties parading their manifestos in turn.

Not perhaps that we’ve learned anything particularly new. As UCL Policy Lab Director Marc Stears explained ‘the aim has been to avoid political bear traps as much as set out ambitious courses.’  It’s certainly felt like that.

It’s meant for instance that much of what was announced for education had a familiar ring to it. No surprises was the order of the day.

This then is a summary of what each major party had to say on education.

Let’s start with the Conservatives where a contrite Rishi Sunak, "things have not always been easy and we have not got everything right," launched the Conservative’s manifesto with a focus on ‘bold actions, clear plans and tax cuts.’

The 80-page manifesto, the size of an Argos catalogue according to an i-newspaper reporter, contained a number of familiar drumbeats on education, from National Service for 18-year-olds to the scrapping of ‘poor outcome’ university courses in England.

For schools specifically, on the big question of funding, there was a promise to protect per pupil funding in the next parliament, although the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IfS) reckoned this would work out as an overall cut over time.

On the other big question, that of teacher recruitment and retention R and R), there was a promise of tax-free bonuses for new teachers in priority areas and subjects, along with expanding the R and R premium and reducing workloads but little else. Perhaps the other point of interest was the promise, finally, to create a register of children not in school.

On FE, existing commitments on creating more apprenticeships, introducing mandatory National Service for 18-year-olds implementing the Advanced British Standard and delivering the Lifelong Learning Entitlement were all dutifully listed. And, in case there was any doubt, the party ‘will always support and celebrate our FE colleges.’

As for HE, there were references to the importance of science and innovation and a promise to top up spending on R/D by £2bn. But on the two big current issues, so-called low value degrees and international students, nothing new beyond promising ‘to deliver best value for students,’ ensure students get their designated contact time, and a welcome for the best and the brightest international students.

The education sector seemed pretty underwhelmed by the manifesto proposals. “A collection of recycled policies with nothing new to say about how the Conservatives would deal with the shortage of funding, teachers and the crisis in special educational needs provision,” was the verdict from the ASCL. “We are concerned that the manifesto lacks the step forward we need for skills,” the view from the AELP.

The IfS said that some of the savings proposed, from welfare for instance would be ‘very tough’ while other pledges were hardly likely to touch the sides. The promise to protect per pupil funding, for instance, “would mean that per-pupil spending in 2029 was at the same real-terms level as it was in 2010 - nearly two decades with no growth in school resources per pupil.”

Next Labour, the last of the big three to release their manifesto and where Sir Keir Starmer set out what he called ‘a sober pitch’ to voters but one that offered ‘hope, growth and wealth creation.’ Steady as she goes,’ as the BBC’s Faisal Islam put it.

So no rabbits out of the hat as Sir Keir explained, rather, when it came to education a hop through pre-announced policies.

For schools this meant 6,500 more ‘expert’ teachers, VAT on private school fees, a review of the curriculum and a report card inspection model. There was also a Teacher Training entitlement ‘to ensure teachers stay up to date’ and a promise of two-week’s work experience ‘for every young person.’

It was a similar run through for FE and HE.

Reform of the apprenticeship levy, the creation of a new skills body, Skills England, a youth guarantee and the creation of Technical Excellence Colleges for FE. And some guarded comments about improving access and funding for HE. Perhaps the main point of interest was the nod towards a more coherent post-16 tertiary system.

The reaction from education was broadly positive. The NAHT reckoned there were “a number of positive proposals when it comes to schools,” pointing for example to the scrapping of single-wors inspection judgements. For the FE sector, the AoC equally welcomed many of the proposals.  “I am also pleased that they have recognised the vital role colleges play as anchor institutions in their communities, leading on skills training, with the proposal on technical excellence colleges,” according to David Hughes.

The IfS noted that the manifesto had identified a number of things that needed fixing but had made only modest proposals on tax and spending. Its promised top up of £5bn on public services by 2028/29 would help health and schools but would leave unprotected areas such as FE, vulnerable, it reckoned. Asit concluded, it was difficult to be precise because “there were no commitments on core school and college funding, nor on higher education funding.”

Finally, the Lib Dems, where party leader Sir Ed Davey, sporting a sharp dinosaur tie, launched a 114-page manifesto, described as “a bold, ambitious and fully-costed plan to give the British people the fair deal they deserve.”

Seen by the New Statesman as a ‘document written to address the concerns of middle England,’ and with a natural focus on health and care, “the heart of our manifesto,” it also ticked a number of boxes on education including promised reviews of funding for FE and HE and of the curriculum for schools.

Other pledges included for schools ‘to increase per pupil funding above inflation each year,’ tackle teacher recruitment and retention with an independent Teachers’ Review Body, tackle ‘the crisis in special needs’ and reform Ofsted inspections.

For FE it included reforming the apprenticeship levy with the now familiar skills and training levy, introducing a Young People’s Premium, lifting the VAT burden and creating new Lifelong Skills Grants for adults.

And for HE, and on the vexed question of funding a promise to review HE financing in the next parliament, bring back maintenance grants for disadvantaged students ‘immediately’ and ‘aim for at least 3% of GDP in R/D by 2030.

The proposals were generally welcomed across the education sector. ‘It shows they’ve been listening to us’ reckoned the AoC for instance.

The IfS wasn’t sure about all the costings, “some of the tax raising measures are an economically bad idea,” and one commentator saw them as ‘a bit iffy’ but Sir Ed and team hurried off to Thorpe Park to experience a different kind of swing.

In summary, a potential 70 pledges for education from across the three manifestos. Nothing dramatic but an era now of system review and refresh, getting things working better for more people rather than scoping 1997 or 2010 style grand visions.

On to wider education news.

Away from the manifestos but still on the election, the consultancy Public First reported this week on an interesting poll it had recently conducted on education priorities in the election. The two most popular pledges so far jointly were those to create more teachers and more apprenticeship places. Other current issues such as more funding for universities and plans for national service were well down the list for the magic money tree.

Overall, spending on education was not seen as a top priority, coming in seventh for schools at least in a list behind issues like the NHS, jobs, mental health and climate change. It’s a fascinating survey and the consultancy is following it up with further analysis shortly.

In other news, the latest caveated labour market figures prompted a flurry of headlines about employment cooling off although as the CIPD noted, pay bucked the trend. The key priority for an incoming government as the IES explained, is helping getting people back to work. “When employment stops growing the economy stops growing.”.

In schools this week, and still with election stuff, ASCL called on the leaders of major political parties to seize the moment and support and invest in education as they launch their respective manifestos.

The Education Policy Institute meanwhile offered their thoughts on the recent school workforce data pointing to continuing issues around recruitment and retention but equally suggesting ‘some glimmers of hope.’ “The retention of early-career teachers has continued to improve since last year, which may be related to improvements the government has made in the support for new teachers, and the number of teachers returning to the profession has also risen.”

In FE and also on the election front, the Learning and Work Institute set out a Blueprint for change for learning and work while the AELP brought its ‘Six Asks’ together into a full election manifesto. “Our manifesto sets out a strong argument that skills should be a national priority.”

And talking of skills, the position around BTECs and other L3 qualifications was the subject of an important blog this week by the former boss of UCAS and current chair at Pearson, Mary Curnock Cook.

She argued that defunding BTECs and many other L3 qualifications could have ‘a disastrous effect on progression,’ leave many under represented students with limited options and ultimately cut number progressing to HE by some 25,000, let alone lost fee income to the sector.’ It was a powerful message.

In HE this week, the IHE and UCU both published election manifestos with the latter calling for ‘meaningful change’ around fees, regulation and working practices.

Away from the election, the sector saw two important student surveys published with the cost-of-living an unwelcome guest in both.  

In the first, the momentous annual HEPI/Advance HE Student Academic Experience survey, the big story according to HEPI director Nick Hillman was how “the student experience is bifurcating.” In effect, one group of students well enough off to enjoy the full extent of the student experience but another group working ‘unhealthy hours in paid employment just to keep their heads above water financially.’

The theme was replicated in the second student survey of the week from the NUS. It found that of the 60% surveyed with a loan, 60% had jobs alongside their studies and 40% were relying on family financial support.

On the positive side, it seems that the student academic experience has regained its bounce from before the pandemic. As HEPI wrote, “the findings reveal an increasingly positive student experience with an improvement in perceptions of value for money from their course, greater satisfaction with contact hours and teaching – particularly in assessment – and their expectations being met.”

And in that spirit, the British Academy issued its report this week on media and allied studies in UKHE, challenging the ‘Mickey Mouse’ moniker by pointing to how crucial they are “in addressing global issues from developing media and information literacy and combating disinformation to guiding the future adoption and use of AI tools.”

So as indicated, a full on week and for education at least, a long listing of things that need repairing.

Links to most of these stories below starting with the week’s headlines.