The Foundation for Education Development – the FED – has expressed its approval of "long-term thinking" being back in government when it comes to education. A recent comment is shown here:
The FED has the prime aim of promoting the urgent need for a long-term vision, strategy and plan for education in England - and it is increasingly clear that one is needed more now, than ever.
With much going on in the world of Westminster, we would like to welcome the new ministerial team to the Department for Education - they include the Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP, the Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP and the Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP. They are joined back in government by the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, and the Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP.
We are delighted that in this team, and across Government, we have strong supporters for the need for a long-term vision, strategy and plan for education, and we look forward to working closely with them.
In this same time period, Lord David Blunkett, published the 'Learning and skills for economic recovery, social cohesion and a more equal Britain'. This report has received considerable attention within the education community.
Lord Blunkett said of the report that he wanted to “initiate a rational public debate about the part that everyone can play in contributing to success” to put “education and training back at the centre of government thinking”.
We are absolutely clear at the FED that a long-term vision, strategy and plan is needed to provide the foundation for a world leading national education system. Following the launch of our second National Education Consultation Report 2022 we identified that a long-term strategy and plan could provide:
Greater stability - Help overcome historic short-termism in education planning.
Policy collaboration - A system for policy collaboration across stakeholders needs to be devised which can deliver a robust and incisive long-term strategic planning framework to lead world-class outcomes.
Joined up policy-making to meet the needs of all learners - Education policy-making is heavily siloed, hampering cross-department planning and cooperation at the national, regional, and local levels. A long-term strategic planning framework could help overcome these challenges by providing a structure to the system to strategically manage key components and provide continuity.
In the words of Professor David Hopkins, Chair of Educational Leadership at the University of Bolton & WS1 member:
“One of the things we do know about educational systems that have made significant progress in the last 20 years is that they have had a long-term plan, but they’ve also had ... more importantly ... a narrative to go alongside it... One of the best examples currently is Ontario that has accelerated up the PISA rankings in the last dozen years or so.”
..............................................
There is a tide flowing here. Whether it is yet at the flood remains to be seen. As is whether it can navigate the inertial tidal barriers within the DfE's curriculum team.
Those of us who are interested in (promoting the value of) environmental education might take heed of this, least we are left stranded, again, on the shore and reduced to waving frantically – again.
Respond