The education secretary’s powers could be “reviewed” under a Green party government, with a new national council for education to ensure “high standards” in schools, a draft policy paper suggests. The Greens have long called for a rewire of the English school system – including the abolishment of Ofsted, the scrapping of high-stakes formal exams and a ban on new free schools. But its lofty proposals are becoming more concrete after a huge rise in support for the party this year. Membership has grown under Zack Polanski’s leadership from 68,000 in September 2025 to more than 200,000. There are about 1,300 Green councillors across the UK, and the party is in overall control of five councils, including Hastings, Waltham Forest and Norwich. While there was little mention of its vision for education from leaders over the weekend of its annual conference, Schools Week understands a policy working group is putting together proposals that could be formalised by next autumn. The draft motion states that the party intends to refresh Green policies – last updated in 2015 – to give elected officials and activists “a framework on which to campaign for a more progressive approach to education which works for everyone”. Draft policy paper Writers of the policy paper say it has been drafted “against the backdrop of a failing education, rising number of learners whose SEND needs are not being met”, and “an ongoing mental health crisis amongst our young people and educational staff”. They said all education settings “should not be run for profit”, although academy trusts are charities that cannot turn a profit. Leaders should be held accountable by “local communities”, supported by a new national council of education. This independent, government-funded body, which would “take over responsibility for ensuring high educational standards are maintained throughout the education sector”, would also “review” the powers of the education secretary. Members would include pedagogy, child development and social care experts, as well as union leaders and education leaders. They would formulate guidance on standards and approaches, advise government departments and develop assessment frameworks and training requirements. A party spokesperson said the new council was not intended to be “a direct replacement” for either Ofsted or the Department for Education, but that it would be responsible for monitoring school performance. They added that the Greens valued “decisions being taken as closely as possible to the communities they affect”. It was therefore “likely the extent of power held centrally will be reviewed”. The working group has also proposed a “root to branch” evaluation of what constitutes professional status” across education, and that councils should run “fair, flexible and responsive” admission systems that prioritise the welfare of a child. The working group was advertised during one of two conference fringe events hosted by the National Education Union (NEU). Vix Lowthion, until recently the party’s schools spokesperson, said the NEU had been “amazingly supportive” of the Greens for more than a decade, and that their policies on schools closely aligned. Delivering the changes Peer Natalie Bennett, a former leader of the party, said its next election manifesto would “have to think about how you can actually deliver these changes”. “I reckon in year one we can abolish baseline tests and SATs. Getting rid of Ofsted is more complicated because you’ve got to build the structures, but that’s year three or four. “There’s a very good chance we will be in a position to actually demand this change.” With the Greens now running several councils, they have significant new powers of influencing education at a local level – but must also ensure they fulfil statutory duties. When asked about whether the party agreed with the government’s SEND reforms, Martin Abrams, the leader of Lambeth council and a member of the Greens, said Labour had “two modes of doing things”. “Mode one is to announce something that sounds horrendous, and mode two is to announce something that sounds pretty good and not funded properly. “What the government needs to do, if they really believe in SEND reform, which we all do, is put some money into it.” Draft policies state that children should have their learning needs tested “on an ongoing basis”. Zoë Garbett, the mayor of Hackney, told a conference fringe event that the council was lobbying local academies on exclusions and their behaviour policies. The draft policy paper is likely to go to vote at the party’s conference in autumn 2027. If adopted, it will become official policy. The spokesperson said the policies could change following consultation.