As the upcoming election approaches, education is a pivotal issue for voters, candidates, and policymakers alike. The outcome of this election could bring significant changes to the educational landscape, impacting students, teachers, and the broader community. Within this blog, we thought we would outline the key manifesto points of the country’s leading parties, highlighting what this would mean for education.
One of the key Labour Party manifestos is to recruit 6,500 new teachers into education to address the teaching recruitment crisis. In the hope of raising educational standards across the country, the party promises to address the teacher staffing crisis and increase funding for schools by reallocating tax breaks for private schools and adjusting teacher training bursaries. Whilst no such goal has been announced by the Conservative Party, we surveyed the MAT Recruitment community to ask their opinions on the Labour Party’s proposal, of which no respondents agreed that this tactic would be effective; instead, 64% stated it would not be sufficient, and 36% were uncertain about whether this would be impactful.
Other key proposals surrounding education within the Labour Party’s manifesto include the improvement of the quality and availability of Early Years childcare, with a strong emphasis on developing early communication and mathematics skills. This includes the recruitment of additional mental health staff to support the mental wellbeing of students. Lastly, it has been proposed that the party will introduce the Advanced British Standard to merge academic and technical learning to better prepare students for a variety of career paths.
Conversely, the Conservative manifesto proposes mandatory National Service for young people once they turn 18. This will include the placement of young people into military or civic service in the hope of building character and civic responsibility amongst the younger generation. Whilst not addressing the teacher staffing crisis, the party pledges to fund 100,000 high-quality apprenticeships, reflecting a targeted approach to preparing young people for specific career paths. With regard to Early Years, the Conservative Party pledges 30 hours of free childcare per week from the age of nine months until four years, aiming to support working parents and ensure early childhood development.
The direction taken on these issues will depend significantly on the election results. Both the Labour and Conservative parties offer distinct visions for the future of education in the UK. Labour focuses on increasing funding, improving early years education, supporting mental health, and broadening educational standards. The Conservatives emphasise vocational training, a disciplined learning environment, and widening support for early childcare. For voters, understanding the educational policies and priorities of candidates is crucial, with it impacting not only the current generation of students but also the future workforce and societal cohesion.
Overall, it is clear to see the upcoming election holds significant implications for education, from funding and curriculum to teacher support and higher education affordability. However, we must see improvements in action to improve the lives and future of our young people. As voters head to the polls, the choices they make will help determine the future of education and its role in fostering a prosperous and inclusive society.
Don’t forget to vote on the 4th of July.
