FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SYSTEM REFORM - A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR EDUCATION IS NEEDED

As we approach the upcoming spending review, we must ask a fundamental question: how do we ensure that education funding delivers long-term value, rather than short-term fixes? The answer lies in system-wide reform that prioritises coherence, accountability, and stability. A long-term plan for education—underpinned by a National Education Assembly, a Chief Education Officer, and a National Education Council — can provide the structures needed to enhance fiscal responsibility and strategic investment in our education system.

The Challenge of Short-Termism.?The education sector has suffered from a lack of long-term strategic planning, often subjected to short funding cycles, reactive policy changes, and inconsistent investment. This not only disrupts the sector but also reduces the effectiveness of funding, leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities for sustainable improvement. If we are to create an education system that delivers for future generations, we must take a more strategic approach—one that aligns investment with long-term national priorities and ensures that every pound spent delivers maximum value.

How an evolution of our system?can strengthen fiscal responsibility.

1. A National Education Assembly – By bringing together representatives from across the education sector—teachers, school and college leaders, policymakers, businesses, parents/carers and learners — a National Education Assembly can provide a forum for informed debate and collective decision-making. Such an assembly would help shape a consensus on spending priorities, ensuring that funding decisions are based on long-term needs rather than short-term political pressures.
2. A Chief Education Officer – The introduction of a Chief Education Officer?would bring a stable, independent voice to education policy, offering expert guidance on funding allocations, policy effectiveness, and long-term educational outcomes.?
3. A National Education Council – To support strategic oversight, a National Education Council could act as a bridge between government, educators, and the wider public. This body would ensure that spending aligns with an agreed long-term vision, evaluating the impact of investments and holding policymakers accountable for delivering value for money.

Embedding stability and efficiency into the spending review.

By integrating these structures into the education system, we can shift from a reactive funding model to one that is proactive and strategic. This will allow us to:

• Reduce waste by ensuring that investment decisions are made within a long-term framework, preventing costly short-term interventions that fail to address root causes.
• Enhance transparency by creating mechanisms for oversight, ensuring that funding decisions are made in consultation with those who best understand the needs of the sector.
• Improve outcomes by committing to sustained, evidence-based policies that drive consistent improvement over time.

The upcoming spending review provides a critical opportunity to embed these principles into education funding. If we are serious about delivering value for money and creating an education system that stands the test of time, we must move beyond short-term political cycles and embrace a long-term plan?for education.

A National Education Assembly, a Chief Education Officer, and a National Education Council are not just structural reforms — they are essential mechanisms for ensuring that every investment in education is a step towards a stronger, inclusive and more sustainable future.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us for our recent FEDSpace event, Education Reimagined: Neurodivergence at the Centre.?We are grateful to our distinguished chairs, Graeme Routledge from Doncaster PINS Network, Kate Longworth from Gaia Learning, Melissa Farnham FCCT NPQH from ASDAN and Patrick McGrath from Texthelp,?for leading these important discussions.

There are a few spaces left at our next FEDSpace event, From Representation to Transformation: Embedding Inclusion in Education,?so come and join us for this important roundtable.

We are delighted to share the reflections of Dr Anita Devi FRSA CL (GGA) , Founder of?#TeamADL. Anita draws on extensive experience in SEND leadership, critiques the perception of SENCOs as mere administrators and argues that the education system suffers from “mission drift,” where financial concerns overshadow vision and purpose. You can read her thinkpiece titled 'SEND Leadership – Is it time to lead differently?' here.