The coalition


and has already presented the Academies Bill to Parliament which will pave the way for schools which are judged to be outstanding to switch quickly to academy status. Another flagship policy for the Conservatives is what has become


known as free schools. Under this policy parent groups, charities, businesses and community groups will be able to set up their own schools and again get funding directly from the government. There is disagreement between the coalition partners over how


these new academies and free schools should be monitored, with the Conservatives wanting them to be accountable to central government and the Liberal Democrats arguing for a continued role for local authorities. The new schools will get their money directly from the Department for


Who’s who at the Department for Education?


As soon as the new government was formed the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) was immediately renamed the Department for Education (DfE). A new front page has been added to the department website and can be found at www.education.gov.uk. All the old DCSF material can still be accessed through this portal, but a pop up window reminds visitors to any page that while the contents continue “to reflect the current legal position” they “may not reflect current government policy”.


The responsibility of this department is for schools: early years, primary and secondary. Further education, higher education and adult education are now the responsibility of Vince Cable and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.


Michael Gove is the new secretary of state for education. A former Times journalist, he is a bright light in the Conservative Party and helps David Cameron write his speeches. Mr Gove has said that “improving literacy, raising pupil attainment, extending parental choice, freeing teachers from bureaucracy, improving discipline, and closing the widening gap between the richest and the poorest should be our shared goal.” Mr Gove has a 17,000 majority in his Surrey Heath constituency. He is married with primary age children.


In the second tier of ministerial responsibility are Nick Gibb, Conservative MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, and Sarah Teather, Liberal Democrat MP for Brent Central. Mr Gibb is the new minister of state for schools and Ms Teather is the new minister of state for children and families. Both are childless.


The new Parliamentary under secretary of state for children and families is Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, Tim Loughton. He is married with a son and two daughters and is the only minister to have attended a state secondary school.


David Bell, former chief inspector of schools, remains as permanent secretary with responsibility for overseeing the day to day business of the department and advising the secretary of state. Mr Bell’s continuation in the post is popular and should ensure some stability as the department moves forward.


12


Education (DfE) and this could be seen as a return to the grant-maintained schools of the 1980s Conservative education policy. The pupil premium, whereby greater funding goes to schools with


disadvantaged pupils, was high on the agenda of both parties in the run up to the election. There was, however, disagreement over how it should be funded. The Liberal Democrats had promised £2.5 billion of new money for this initiative, which they see as key to raising attainment. The Tories planned to find the money from within existing budgets, which some have interpreted as presaging cuts in other areas. Mr Gove has also outlined plans that would mean outstanding schools


in England will no longer face routine Ofsted inspections, allowing inspectors to focus on failing schools. These changes will form part of the Education and Children’s Bill, which is due to be published in the autumn. Discipline is a traditional Conservative theme and many teachers


would find it hard to disagree that they need more support in dealing with society’s behavioural problems. Mr Gove is not specific about how he will support teachers, but then it is early days. Discipline is another key area to watch over the coming months.


The curriculum Change was already well underway when the new government took over. The Rose review led to the drawing up of the new primary curriculum (NPC). The unofficial Alexander review was, of course, also influential in curriculum change.


“There is, however, a glimmer of hope


in the very nature of coalition politics. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are


going to have to talk to each other before they pass legislation”


However, the DfE has announced that the government does not intend


to proceed with the new primary curriculum. The government has stated it intends to return the national curriculum to its intended purpose – a minimum national entitlement organised around subject disciplines – and will shortly announce its next steps. In the meantime, the existing primary curriculum will continue to be in force in 2011/12 and schools should plan on that basis.


School finance No one doubts there will be less money for education. The coalition has agreed to make £6 billion worth of cuts in our sector this year. Despite early speculation a decision has not yet been made on Building Schools for the Future (BSF) funding or any other capital programmes, according to the DfE. A comprehensive spending review will be undertaken in the autumn and ministers will shortly be considering their spending priorities. In the meantime, George Osborne, the new Chancellor of the Exchequer,


has announced that he will reveal his emergency budget on Tuesday June 22. It will be worth looking closely at the figures as it is likely that some of your ongoing initiatives may suffer immediately.


And finally The future is certain to bring even more administrative, financial and curriculum change for schools. And there will be less money to spend. There is, however, a glimmer of hope in the very nature of coalition politics. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are going to have to talk to each other before they pass legislation. This could bring an end to the bulldozer politics of the last 30 years where first the Conservatives and then Labour had pretty much carte blanche to do what they liked with education during their terms of office. Discussion, compromise and agreement could become the norm as the education agenda moves forward and if teachers’ representatives actively engage with this process then the outcome could be greater stability for schools and education than we have known in three decades.


• Steve Mynard is a former primary headteacher and can be contacted at stevemynard@sky.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32