Education Manifestos in Detail: Part Four – The Green Party

For our final post on the education election manifestos, we turn to the Green Party.

Due to our electoral ‘first past the post’ system, the Green Party isn’t going to grasp the keys to Number 10. Neither are they going to win the number of seats their popularity would give them under proportional representation.

However, thanks the popularity of their policies and of their one MP, Caroline Lucas, the Greens are firmly on the political map in the UK, which is why it’s important to consider their education programme.

It’s radical. It’s not simply “more of the same” that we’ve seen from the other parties. It talks about the value and the excitement of learning. It’s a set of the pledges that many would hope for from a progressive party.

If there’s a coalition or a policy by policy co-operative of the Left after the election, we sincerely hope that the Green Party will bring these manifesto pledges to the bargaining table and stand by them more than the Liberals did with theirs in 2010.

For the entire Green Party manifesto, click here, and scroll to page 36 for the education section.

NB: Many of the pledges include financial statements on the cost, omitted here for brevity!

The Green Party has constructed its manifesto by age range rather than specific themes.

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The key pledges for Early Years and Childcare are,

Build a free but voluntary universal early education and childcare service for all children from birth until compulsory education age, which we would raise to 7 years. Integrate this into the local education service, run by local education authorities, and build on existing infant schools. Ensure that the system includes children’s centres for the very youngest children and their parents, and childcare and early education for children from age 1.

3Di Comment: It’s good to see the Green Party taking heed of national and international evidence. Many of the most successful countries in Europe have a compulsory school age of 7. The overwhelming evidence on the importance of play-based learning means that these policies, in our opinion, are precisely what are needed England. (See our previous post here, on why we are opposed to Liz Truss and Sir Michael Wilshaw suggesting that “structured” learning should start at the age of 2.)

Ensure that those who lead early years education are qualified teachers with qualified teacher status and with specialist knowledge of early years education; and ensure all other staff are qualified to level 3. Encourage parents to participate in helping to run the service. Ensure that parents would receive much increased Child Benefit from 2016 and would continue to receive Statutory Maternity and Paternity Pay.

3Di Comment: We’d agree with a means tested Child Benefit increase to support those families who are most financially deprived. Many schools and nurseries have always encouraged participation from parents and carers – some of our best teaching assistants were initially parents of children in schools. We’d add to this a programme of optional training for those who wish to formalise their work in school.

The Early Years have for too long been the poor relation in education, with the incorrect assumption that teaching small children is somehow easier than teaching adolescents. It’s not!

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The key pledges for Schools are,

Democratic accountability and a key role for local authorities in planning, admissions policy and equality of access for children with special needs. A comprehensive system of local schools offering mixed-ability teaching and staffed by qualified teachers, and the integration of grammar schools into the comprehensive system. Restoring education current and capital funding to 2010 levels in real terms (costing around £7 billion a year) and distributing it fairly among local authorities. Action to reduce teacher workload and introduce professional pay levels for all teachers. Ending the marketisation and outsourcing of education. Leaving local education authorities free to decide how much to allocate to current spending and how much to capital projects.

3Di Comment: Education is expensive, and so it should be when you consider that it’s supporting, shaping and enabling our next generation. The Green Party is evidently keen to ensure that fair funding for education is a priority – which we would agree with.

The role of local authorities in admissions and in the provision of school places is crucial, as is provision for SEN pupils, and these should be restored at the earliest opportunity. We’d also agree to there being a national comprehensive system of full integration. This has never happened but evidence from other countries, like Finland, suggest that we won’t have better equity in schools or society until this happens.

The marketisation of education is a concern. For too long, organisations have made money out of the academies programme which involves a school to manage and a significant amount of previously nationally owned land that technically can be sold off at a huge profit. This is an abomination.

Class sizes of 20, costing £1.5 billion over the Parliament. The integration of academies and free schools into the local authority system. Formal learning from 6 years of age, with earlier years education focusing on play, social cohesion and confidence-building, and compulsory education beginning at age 7. The abolition of SATS and league tables, and the evaluation of schools by parents, teachers and the local community, not Ofsted, which we would abolish, reducing the accountability-related workload. A broad, balanced and enriching curriculum, including creative and vocational areas, and making PSHE (including sex and relationships education, and also first aid) compulsory, with a coherent 16–19 qualifications framework allowing a real choice of academic and vocational areas, or a mixture of them. An increase in outdoor education and physical activity so children establish an early and strong relationship with their local environment.

3Di Comment: We agree with a cap on class sizes but would set it at 24, not 20.

The key pledges here are the abolition of SATs and Ofsted and the raising of the status of PSHE, making it compulsory – something that Caroline Lucas tried to do in a Private Members Bill during the last parliament. Even if the other parties aren’t saying it, by looking at their manifestos and their speeches in recent times, there’s agreement on the value of PSHE – so make it statutory.

As for Ofsted, note the careful wording here. “Reducing the accountability related workload” not “reducing accountability”. Teachers are professionals and should be treated as such. The formative assessment process costs less and is equally accountable IF people trust the profession. Coherent, cohesive and collaborative inspections by HMIs with peer-based adjudication and moderation would seem a viable alternative to an inspection regime seemingly hell-bent on punitive rather than positive criticism.

We agree wholeheartedly with a change to the qualifications framework but would amend this pledge to 14-19 year olds rather than 16-19. We’re also wholly committed to outdoor education and the better use of the local built and natural environment.

The right for every child who is disabled to a mainstream education. The removal of charitable status from private schools, with a view to absorbing them into the state system, but nevertheless ensuring that no schools are run for profit. We will phase out public funding of schools run by religious organisations.  Schools may teach about religions, but should not encourage adherence to any particular religious beliefs. Home education and flexi-schooling. Free nutritious lunches, with local and GM-free ingredients, and children involved in growing, preparing and cooking food where possible. Ensuring that all schools that serve particular vulnerable communities, for example the Jewish, Muslim or Sikh communities, are adequately protected from sectarian attacks. An end to the trend whereby parents have to buy as extras equipment needed at school or for participation on expensive school trips.

3Di Comment: Even before the introduction of academies and free schools, the education system was diverse and divisive. If we are truly committed to equality of provision, this needs to change. It will take careful planning, but it’s feasible and necessary.

Many schools have now introduced a “voluntary” contribution at the beginning of each term to pay for school trips and visits. We see these experiences as integral parts of education which should be paid for from the schools’ own budgets. If budgets aren’t sufficient then the answer is to give more money to schools. However, many schools manage perfectly well to factor into their spending plans the cost of out of school learning. Those that don’t do so can maybe learn from those that are able to. We’d also like to see the cost of music tutors to come from mainstream budgets and not from parents’ pockets.  Many parents cannot afford to pay. Every child should be able to play a musical instrument of their choice.

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The key pledges for Further Education and Skills Training are,

Oppose the privatisation of further education and return further education colleges to the democratic control of local government. Reverse the trend whereby 45% of apprenticeships are now taken by people over 25. We would reinstate the government’s duty to provide an apprenticeship to all qualified young people aged 16–19 who do not have one and want one, but extend it to age 25. Restore the Education Maintenance Allowance for 16 and 17 year olds. Provide the further education sector with £1.5 billion a year extra funding.

3Di Comment: The other “poor relation” in education has always been Further Education. Academic success has always taken precedence over vocational, and this has to stop. To reflect this fundamental and much needed shift, funding has to be provided for the vocational choices of young people and adults.

The abolition of the EMA was a retrograde step and in the bigger picture, didn’t cost too much money. There were thousands of young people deeply affected and penalised by its loss. So bringing it back would be the right and equitable thing to do.

Connect universities with local schools and colleges through nationwide Widening Participation programmes. Encourage local authorities to use some of the additional money we propose to give to them to restore a full range of local adult education programmes. End the anomaly whereby schools and academies can reclaim VAT on goods and services whereas sixth form colleges and further education colleges cannot, by allowing the latter to claim, costing around £170 million a year. Prioritise training in the skills needed to build a low-carbon economy.

3Di Comment: Having worked in local authorities with excellent “Widening Participation” programmes, we’ve seen the enormous benefits – young people gaining access to medical and veterinary qualifications that they wouldn’t normally be able to. Extending this to other areas such as music and the arts would be a positive move.

Adult education is important, whatever age. How many of these institutions have closed their doors over the last two decades, thereby depriving local people of the opportunity for lifelong learning?

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The key pledges for Higher Education are,

Ending undergraduate tuition fees Cancelling student debt issued by the Student Loans Company and held by the government. Reintroducing student grants costing £2.2 billion over the Parliament. In the longer run we would support student living costs through the Basic Income. In the longer term, considering scrapping fees for academic postgraduate courses.

3Di Comment: It’s a big ask, and many would disagree with free education for those who are likely to receive the highest salaries in later life. However, if there’s truly going to be equity between academic and vocational studies, there has to be equity in the financial cost of learning. Even now, attendance at universities doesn’t equate to a higher salary. Many able graduates find themselves having to retrain in order to gain employment.

The student loan system has always presented problems. The increase in costs from £3000 to £9000 a year has meant many have decided not to attend university despite protestations from the current government to the contrary. If you look into the detail of attendance and which courses in which universities are being accessed by the less financially able people, a very different story emerges. Returning to the grant system is ambitious but not impossible.

Restoring access to lifelong learning by supporting mature students and their families. Reintroducing the block grant to universities. It is essential that teaching and learning can be supported effectively across the sciences and the humanities. Encouraging universities and pension funds such as the Universities Superannuation Scheme to divest from fossil fuel companies. Supporting the 10:1 ‘fair pay campus’ campaign. We are committed to ending the scandal of Vice-Chancellors paying themselves £300,000 a year while cleaners on the national minimum wage have to resort to food banks.

3Di Comment: One of the biggest concerns about university funding is their reliance on research grants and the potential time and energy cost to undergraduates of that funded research. The need for income generation detracts from the job in hand, whatever the organisation. If it’s feasible for a reintroduction of the block grant, then it should be considered, but universities would have to make a very clear case for such funding that should be for the benefit of the students and not the institution.

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This manifesto is ambitious but not delusional. Some might say it’s harking back to the past, where education was free for all. However, there are significant lessons that have been learned and evidence that has been considered within these proposals. In the long run we could have a National Education Service alongside our NHS.

This is the spirit of ’45 for a new era – the Spirit of 2015 – and one we wholeheartedly support.