WHITEPAPER ADOPTS A LONG TERM LENS FOR EDUCATION

It has been a significant week for the English Education system with the publication of the first education whitepaper in a number of years.??

It is not often that we see a?government outlining over 48 hours a broad vision for the future of education policy as it has in??'Opportunity for all: Strong schools with great teachers for your child'?followed immediately by its green paper on the SEND review?‘Right Support, right place, right time’.

The FED supports the overarching vision highlighted by the Secretary of State to?“introduce and implement standards that will improve children’s education, deliver the right support if they fall behind and give them the tools to lead a happy, fulfilled and successful life”?and we are encouraged by an approach that sees the broad picture through a long-term lens.?

There are some urgent actions required – particularly in relation to issues raised in the SEND review – but many of the policies (as with the levelling up agenda) are to be achieved by 2030 as the white paper?“marks the start of a journey towards an education system in which all children benefit from the high standards of the best schools and families of schools”.?

The FED have advocated that long term issues can only be tackled through long term solutions and a comprehensive and ‘joined-up’ approach to how education policy and practice is built and developed, that in many cases reaches across the boundaries of party politics, is needed.?An agreed framework for the development of such policy is the focus of some of the FED's work this year.

We have seen that much can be learned from the successes and challenges faced by previous secretaries of state for education. Our FED webinar this week?‘Lessons Learned. Learning from past Secretaries of State for Education'?featured?Sir Michael Barber?in conversation with?Laura McInerney?who discussed some of the characters who have shaped our education system and the political arena they have operated in.?

In this entertaining, well attended and wide-ranging conversation, Sir Michael called upon his significant experience in government and his observation of how education policy has evolved over the years. Asked to summarise how best to achieve successful policy implementation from viewing past policy, Sir Michael indicated three factors needed to be taken into account:??(1) a clear strategy-a common agenda and expected outcomes over a ten year period (2) the provision of adequate human capital (3) the setting of standards expected and the data systems to underpin and monitor.?This clarity of vision informs the FED thinking on a long-term vision for education.?You can view this event for yourself here.

As many of you are aware The Foundation for Education Development (FED) is a community interest company with the objectives of promoting the benefits, importance and understanding of a long-term vision, strategy?and plan for education in England. We set out with a three-year mandate to consult with all stakeholders with an interest in education and to begin to develop a framework for a long-term vision, strategy?and plan for education in England. Our wide-ranging consultation has included input from all of our FED stakeholder councils with our thinking being refined by our four independent workstreams.?

We are working towards the launch of the second FED National Education Consultation Report in July this year, but in these short conversations you will hear Jo Malone, FED Executive Team member, talk with a co-chair from each of our four workstreams and hear about the progress to date, questions arising and some of the thinking and debate that has taken place.

In this fireside chat, you will hear?Essie North, CEO of Big Change, talk about?Workstream 1 – Develop a Vision, Purpose and Objectives for a 10-year Plan for the English Education System.?Watch more here.

In this fireside chat, you will hear?Emma Knights,?CEO of National Governance Association, talk about?Workstream 2 – Structures to develop and govern a 10-year education plan which include the development of system architecture that delivers intelligent, sustainable long-term policy and planning.?Watch more here.

In this fireside chat, you will hear?Lizzie Watts, Director of Accreditation & Standards Pearsons, talk about?Workstream 3 – Identifying different approaches to levelling up and educational outcomes and placed-based approaches to generate and sustain excellence in educational outcomes.?Watch more here.

In this fireside chat, you will hear?Al Kingsley, Group Managing Director of NetSupport, talk about?Workstream 4 – Identifying the most effective frameworks for embedding equity and inclusion in our education system and developing culture, systems and practice to ensure that everyone can succeed.?Watch more here.

We are?hugely grateful for the direct involvement of over 250?senior individuals in our independent workstream steering groups and our stakeholder councils. It is?clear for the future of our country that an education framework is needed that addresses the big issues?and that delivers for our economy, for our society as a whole and, above all, for the children and young people who will be our citizens of the future.