GE2017 | Schools Week

The Conservative manifesto is about making schools easier to control

This manifesto is essentially about making schools cheaper to run and easier to control. The only saving grace is there’s no target on grammar schools. Let’s run through the problems we have in education, then I shall explain why. First, we are halfway through moving from a local authority-led system to a MAT-led system. The […]

Conservative Schools Pledges 2017: The Nerdy Details Guide

The Conservative Party’s manifesto has been launched by the prime minister Theresa May in Halifax, West Yorkshire today. The 84-page document sets out the party’s vision for the next parliament, including what it will do for education. Here is our analysis of all the schools policies in the manifesto… More good school places 1. Build 100 […]

The Tories have scored an own goal on universal free school meals

There is a strange sense of relief in hearing a policy you have criticised for years finally be scrapped. I have long since argued against universal free school meals, for many reasons. But the Tories may come to regret the manner in which they have ended this policy. Make no mistake. The policy remains a […]

Conservative manifesto confirms grammar schools commitment

The Conservative Party has confirmed plans to lift the ban on new grammar schools in its manifesto, a move which will guarantee the policy will go ahead if they win the election. The document also confirms several other proposals from the ‘Schools That Work for Everyone’ consultation last year, including a condition for universities which […]

Conservative manifesto: Teachers to get student loan forgiveness

New teachers will have their student loan repayments forgiven for the whole time they remain in the profession, the Conservative Party has announced. In its election manifesto, launched in Halifax this morning, the party says it will offer forgiveness on repayments for new teachers in order to help new teachers “remain in the profession”, should […]

Conservatives abandon 2020 90 per cent EBacc target

The government will only expect 75 per cent of pupils to be entered for the EBacc GCSE subjects by 2022, the Conservative Party’s manifesto has revealed. A consultation on the accountability measure had set out plans to require schools to enter at least 90 per cent of pupils for the five subjects by 2020. However, the […]

Conservative manifesto: The full list of schools policies

The prime minister Theresa May has launched her party’s manifesto in West Yorkshire. Here are the Conservatives’ policies for schools. More good school places 1. Build 100 free schools a year 2. Prohibit councils from creating any new places in schools that have been rated either ‘inadequate’ or ‘requires improvement’ by Ofsted 3. Universities that […]

Conservative manifesto: Infant lunches scrapped, but schools get £4bn

The Conservatives have announced plans to scrap universal infant free school meals in favour of free breakfasts for all primary school pupils, and say they will pump £4 billion into schools to provide a “funding floor” for schools in the new funding formula. According to the party, which will release its manifesto today, the additional revenue […]

Liberal Democrats would allow new council maintained schools

The Liberal Democrats have pledged to repeal the rule which requires all new schools to be academies and to give councils “clear responsibility” for local school place planning. Currently, local authorities are only allowed to open new maintained schools under very specific and rare circumstances. The Lib Dems want to scrap the laws limiting councils from opening […]