This is a brief appraisal of the Labour Party’s work on education during 1997-2010. Looking back the positives very much out weigh the negatives. As we know what followed was demonstrably worse and destructive.
My further point would be that during the last two elections campaigning in my constituency or nationally there was very little reference to this productive time of progressive developments in education. Going forward we need to own the narrative around the successes of historic domestic agendas under Labour Governments if we are to stop the Tories winning yet another election and continuing their outmoded and regressive view of what they see as constituting ‘State Education.’
Re: The Labour Party 1997-2010.
It was an exciting and pleasurable time to be working in the sector during this period (particularly during the first two terms of the government. ) It felt different but the strategic approach was largely to borrow the conservatives’ clothes on testing, standards, action plans, targets and performance management with the School’s standards and Effectiveness unit at its hub. The continuation of Chris Woodhead as Chief Inspector of Schools rather underlined this point. The Tories were struggling to find some clear blue water in this area and ended with Major’s ‘ Grammar school in every town’ posture. The Strategy was therefore successful.
In terms of positives: ( In no particular order-apart from the first!)
Sure Start
The Numeracy and Literacy strategy- Summer schools . Network of homework clubs
Functional skills initiative.
The amount of funding for various projects initiatives ( Standards fund/ New Opportunities fund/ lottery/ prince’s trust) Excellence in cities, Education Action Zones, Beacon Schools and Specialist schools.
Every Child Matters
SEAL
Slimming down the National curriculum at Ks2/Ks3
An inclusion agenda- ‘bridging the gap’
Improved performance at all levels of the school sector ( in the face of questions about easier exams/ Coursework collusion etc)
City academies in its first phase injected money into failing and at risk of closure establishments with some success.
Changing GM status to Foundation.
20,000 new Classroom assistants.
Funding for Teacher recruitment.
Investing in Training- Teacher Training Resource Bank/NPQH.
Tomlinson’s Diplomas- Parity between Academic/Vocational ( not implemented fully – cancelled by the Coalition)
Promoting across all phases Evidence and research( the science) as key in informing practice.
Negatives
2004 Higher Education act- the start of tuition fees.
Did little to change the structure of Education ( independent / State/ Grammar schools.) In fact it increased the variety of schools on offer in a local area through CTV, Beacon schools , Academies etc. Left parents at the mercy of postcode perhaps. ( Although the first tranche of City Academies genuinely changed the life chances of Working class children in socially deprived settings)
Did very little to empower the LEA in the Government- LEA – school dynamic( Particularly from 2005-2010)
Continued the marketisation of Education- particularly in teacher training( Golden Hellos / bonus payments on school performance) Etc.
Largely continued the approach to standards from the Thatcher/ Major Years. ( Panda reports driving the school agenda)- but this was strategically successful ( Three Election Wins)
Chris Harris.