ARGUMENT WON, NEW EDUCATION SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE NEEDED, EVOLUTION NOT REVOLUTION CALLED FOR

At the Foundation for Education Development we are quite clear that any meaningful long-lasting change in education needs to be?an evolution, not a revolution. We firmly believe that a long-term plan for education in England is needed. Don't just take our work for it - read the results shared in our third?National Education Consultation Report 2023?- Towards a long-term plan for education.

The argument?for a long-term plan for education has been won. Now, we must shift our focus towards thinking about the architecture required to bring this plan to life. Recently the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP indicated that he wants to reform post-16 education with a new ‘British Baccalaureate’. This was supported?by the Inside Your Ed think tank director, Tom Richmond ,?who said that if government was “serious about boosting technical education, it must end the political obsession with A-levels”.

Throughout our three-year consultation it is evident that any meaningful change needs to be grounded in a broad and meaningful consultation including all the relevant stakeholders. Our stakeholder councils, comprised of Education Leaders, Business Leaders, Learners, Practitioners, SEND/AP?and?Parents/Carers have been crucial in?helping to?shape our thinking.

We were pleased to hear that David Johnston OBE , the new Children’s Minister, has promised?parents to treat parents them as key stakeholders?saying “one of the things I want to see more of is us treating parents as one of our key stakeholders".

We were delighted to read in a recent article?by Mariana Mazzucato ,?Professor in Economics of Innovation and Public Value 英国伦敦大学学院 , who said that?'we need to prioritise patient, long-term finance?for public education' and that education needs to be at the heart of the economy and that 'we need to improve the governance, design and delivery of public, private and donor finance to align with the goal of education for all.'

In our fourth year we are?focussing on the the core systems, processes and thinking needed to evolve the education system to meet future needs. As a result of our three-year consultation these mechanism could include:

1. A 10-year plan for education, with clear goals and processes for setting and delivering short – and long-term aims.
2. National Council for Education?- The long-term plan for education could be developed and overseen by a National Council for Education that has statutory footing and includes representation from experienced leaders in the field of education and beyond.
3. National Education Assembly?- A National Education Assembly for large-scale stakeholder review, inputs and collaboration, akin to the NHS Assembly, could bring together all of the relevant stakeholders from across the education sector and beyond, creating a space for open and honest dialogue, and a built-in feedback loop to feed in to future planning.
4. Chief Education Officer?- The system could benefit from an independent Chief Education Officer, akin to the roles of Chief Scientific Officer or Chief Medical Officer, who would become the most senior government advisor on matters related to education. This independent role could be focused on overseeing the delivery of the long-term plan in consultation with the Secretary of State for Education and key stakeholders.

As we build cross-party support for a long-term plan for education we are delighted to be able speak at the upcoming party conference. We look forward to speaking with you at the following events.

Conservative Party Conference 2023

Date: Monday 2nd October?

Time: 11.00-12.00

Panel Title: Turbo charging the next generation: how enrichment and education can spearhead the workforce of tomorrow

This panel is co-hosted with The Duke of Edinburgh's Award . Speakers include Mims Davies MP for East Grinstead, Uckfield and villages MP,?Minister for Social Mobility and Youth Progression, Department for Work and Pensions; Ruth Marvel OBE , CEO?Duke of Edinburgh’s Award; Shaun O. , Member of the FED Learners Council;?and Carl Ward , Chair of the FED.

Labour Party Conference 2023??

Date: Sunday 8th October

Time: 3-5pm?

Panel Title:?Reimagining a future where skills development is at the heart of lifelong education

Speakers will include Damian Allen , Chief Executive Doncaster City Council; Jonas Andrew-Phillip , Member of FED Learners Council; Freya Thomas Monk , Managing Director, Vocational Qualifications & Training, Pearson; and Carl Ward, Chair of the FED.

You will be aware that we are currently recruiting members to the Practitioners’ Council, including?all teachers, middle leaders, classroom assistants, pastoral managers, youth workers, probation workers, hospital education providers, etc.

Please do share this opportunity across your networks as widely as possible.

The role of this council is to learn from those who work directly with children and young people whether in a formalised school, college, university or adult education?setting or in more informal or alternate education provisions or services.

We are invested in improving the education system for ALL learners we welcome practitioners who support young people whatever their education pathway, including those who provide extra support to the most vulnerable.

For more information and to apply click here.