Politics

Curriculum review must avoid ‘soft bigotry of low expectations’ – Barran

Ex-minister invokes Gove as she says curriculum review should 'scale best practice'

Ex-minister invokes Gove as she says curriculum review should 'scale best practice'

The Labour government’s curriculum and assessment review must not see the party “fall prey” to the “soft bigotry of low expectations”, a former minister has warned.

Baroness Barran, who served as academies minister under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, led the Conservatives’ response to a debate on a House of Lords committee report on 11 to 16 education, published last year.

The report warned the system was “too focused” on academic learning and written exams, called for the EBacc performance measure to be abandoned and said government should reduce external assessment and lower the stakes at age 16.

The recommendations were rejected by the previous government earlier this year.

The new Labour government has launched a review of the curriculum and assessment, led by Education Endowment Foundation boss Professor Becky Francis.

Ministers say the review will “ensure that the curriculum appropriately balances ambition, excellence, relevance, flexibility and inclusivity for all our children and young people, and it will ensure meaningful, rigorous and high-value pathways for all at 16-19”.

But references to skills in Labour’s manifesto and other official documents and speeches have prompted concerns about a move away from the focus on knowledge championed under Conservative governments.

Avoid ‘mistake’ of move back to skills

Today, Baroness Barran urged the new government “to focus not just on calls for change and where the system is working less well but also on where pupils are really thriving most, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds and with SEND and work out how to scale that great practice.

“I genuinely fear that there is a real risk we return to a world where it’s precisely those children whose futures are limited by well-intentioned changes which do not deliver, falling prey to what one former secretary of state and indeed US president described as the soft bigotry of low expectations.

“Any changes need to avoid this. They need to avoid mistakes which have damaged education systems from Scotland to Finland and beyond and protect the achievements of the last 14 years.”

The phrase “soft bigotry of low expectations” was coined by president George W Bush, and then echoed by Conservative education secretary Michael Gove at his party’s conference in 2012.

Barran also asked ministers to “show me a country whose International education rankings have improved by introducing a greater emphasis on skills, a reduced focus on assessment at the expense of knowledge”.

‘Evidence supports importance of knowledge’ says Labour

But responding for the government, culture minister Baroness Twycross said Labour wanted the review “to be evidence based, and the evidence supports the importance of knowledge in helping children to learn”.

“But that should not be at the expense of and doesn’t need to be at the expense of developing skills or making sure young people can thrive, whatever their aptitudes or ambitions.”

Twycross added that she “couldn’t agree more with the noble lady Baroness Barran that we should not have predetermined routes for any child”.

“Every child should believe that success belongs to them, that they can achieve their potential and get the knowledge, skills and experience they need, so this government has committed to transforming our education system so all young people get the opportunities they deserve.”

Latest education roles from

IT Technician

IT Technician

Harris Academy Morden

Teacher of Geography

Teacher of Geography

Harris Academy Orpington

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

Lecturer/Assessor in Electrical

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

Director of Management Information Systems (MIS)

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Exams Assistant

Exams Assistant

Richmond and Hillcroft Adult & Community College

Lecturer Electrical Installation

Lecturer Electrical Installation

Solihull College and University Centre

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

It’s Education’s Time to Shine: Celebrate your Education Community in 2025!

The deadline is approaching to nominate a colleague, team, whole school or college for the 2025 Pearson National Teaching...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Navigating NPQ Funding Cuts: An Apprenticeship Success Story

Last year’s NPQ funding cuts meant that half of England’s teachers faced costs of up to £4,000 to complete...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Embedding Formative Assessment: not just a box-ticking exercise but something long-term and meaningful for all

Our EFA programme has been proven to help schools achieve better GCSE results, as evidenced by the EEF. Find...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Building capacity in family support to tackle low school attendance 

Persistent and severe school absence impacts children, families, and communities—especially in disadvantaged areas. School-Home Support’s Attendance Support and Development Programme...

SWAdvertorial

More from this theme

Politics

‘School profile’ plans revealed amid ‘new era on standards’

'Significantly strengthened' accountability will also 'raise the bar on what we expect from schools', Phillipson to say

Freddie Whittaker
Politics

Labour cost-cutting spree now hits STEM

Science teacher training and physics take-up programmes cut despite Starmer’s pledge to make England an AI ‘superpower’

Jack Dyson
Politics

Phillipson’s first education committee: 8 things we learned

Reforming the national funding formula, international SEND solutions and admissions interventions all on the agenda

Schools Week Reporter
Politics

Children’s wellbeing and schools bill: Committee calls for evidence

Intense lobbying expected as bill seeks to curtail academy freedoms

Freddie Whittaker

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2 Comments

  1. Rubjna Darr

    All teachers and those who understand learning and child development know that there should be no predetermined flight paths for children.
    This is what makes them miserable!!!
    High expectations manifest in many ways.
    Notably the teachers excellent relationship with each child.
    Cultivation of the habits of self assuredness, and the ability to deal with setbacks.
    I was an EAL child, bullied at school for being a Pakistani in an all white school.
    In the bottom set for everything too!!
    Low expectations prevailed, I only remember 2 teachers at Primary and 2 at Secondary that helped me believe I could do it.
    As a headteacher I am totally committed to individual pupil success as all school leaders are and gain great satisfaction from ensuring every child that comes through our doors is enabled to have the best experiences as a child.

    It is a journey of self discovery where excellent facilitation and support which focuses on creativity, imagination and communication.

  2. Rob Litten

    Scale up the best practice?! Excellent idea! Let’s identify the schools that educate predominantly white British working class children and who go on to consistently achieve the highest standards for most of them. It’s a short list!

    Can we please start with these amazing schools… whoever they are!