A New World for education?

A week on from the formation of the new government and we are all wondering how much things have changed, and whether we shall be entering a new world of education. What will that new world be like? Is it just less money, or will there be other changes too?

The ‘Coalition Agreement’ between the Conservatives and Lib Dems said of schools:
“We agree to promote the reform of schools in order to ensure:
That new providers can enter the state school system in response to parental demand
That all schools have greater freedom over the curriculum, and that all schools are held properly accountable”

The ‘new providers’ refers to the Tory flagship policy of allowing parents, teachers and charities to set up their own schools. There are already adverts on ‘Google’ from firms of lawyers offering to help you set up one of these ‘free-schools’. But what should our response be as professionals within the system, or people with a deep interest in education? Should we resist all change? Fight to keep schools within local authority control? Or do we work to ensure that any new school has the best possible curriculum for its learners?

The range of issues being raised by the new government is wide. They include:

• Redefining the role of the local authority in the provision of education
  
• Revenue funding for maintained schools: the impact of the pupil premium
  
• Building Schools for the Future and capital investment
  
• School accountability: reforming school inspection
  
• What will “academy style freedoms” mean for every school?
  
• The role of the governing body
  
• Relationships with local authorities
  
• The new generation of “small schools”, provided by charities, parents & teachers
  
• The role of the private sector
  
• The funding implications of new style schools
  
• The shape of the “national” curriculum
  
• The implications of greater curriculum freedom: primary and secondary
  
• Testing and assessment in primary and secondary schools
  
• Reforming the examination system – what the proposals mean
  
• 14-19 or 16-19? – will the Diploma survive?
  
• The impact of these reforms on teaching & learning in schools
  

The Curriculum Foundation is active on all these fronts and invited you to enter the debate. What shape will the new world take?