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The Education Sector Under The New Labour Government – What To Expect

After having over a decade of Conservative Government in the UK, everyone is understandably anxious about what we should expect from the new labour government. However, with budget cuts, poor funding, and a desperate need for pay increases, one sector is more anxious than most. Education.

Points Of Interest

The Labour Manifesto listed several things that will impact the education sector. Most were in its section on breaking down the barriers to opportunity. These included:

How Labour will break down barriers to opportunity:

  • Recruit 6,500 new expert teachers in key subjects
  • 3,000 new primary school-based nurseries
  • Free breakfast clubs in every primary school
  • A modern curriculum so young people are ready for work and life
  • High-quality apprenticeships and specialist technical colleges

Already under the labour government, statements have been made regarding a 5.5% increase in teacher pay. While this is not a massive amount it is significant, and brings a higher likelihood of attracting new people to the field. This does help break down barriers to opportunity. Young people need more teachers. We need the education sector to be a more attractive area to find a career, and for many years it’s pay that has been one of the major factors deterring people from entering the profession.

However, budgets and funding cuts see the UK education sector desperate for help. Is a 5.5% pay increase for teachers going to be enough? Many doubt it. With Universities on the brink, close to bankruptcy and many schools scraping the barrels for their budgets to meet the needs of the many kids who need them… More is needed. To put it simply, more money.

What’s The REAL Problem & What Does It Mean For The Education Sector?

The real problem is deeply rooted in the country’s financial state. It would be easy to blame COVID-19 for the oodles of money the UK has lost, but it is simply a mixture of Brexit and the cost of living crisis in the last 4 years. Overall these issues have left very little money for the education sector – where it is needed.

However, for the budgets and finances to improve for education, the whole system must improve, or cuts will be needed elsewhere. From talks given by the labour government, we know there is a black hole of debt left by the conservative governments. This poor financial state does bring some anxiety for education. While labour made so many promises on what they would do to help the sector, does this black hole of debt make it less likely promises will be kept?

Does This Mean Labour Won’t Be Able To Deliver Their Education Promises?

A possible contributing factor to Labour’s success in the recent election may be due to their promises for the education sector. However, budgets and understanding finances for the UK impact how well they can deliver the many items on their manifesto. Before the election labour had highlighted areas in early years education that needed prioritization. This included:

Labour’ promises to:

  • Protect spending in the early years in
    real terms
  • Restore the role of Sure Start as family
    hubs in the community, with an
    obligation to provide childcare and a
    focus on early intervention
  • Extend free childcare from 15 to 25
    hours for working parents of three and
    four-year-olds, paid for by an increase
    in the bank levy
  • Give parents a legal guarantee of
    access to childcare from 8 am to 6 pm
    through their local primary school

Its fair to say that these are necessary issues highlighted in early years, but are also the bare minimum in ensuring a healthy start in education for children. Yet, now that the public is aware that labour went into this not knowing the depth of the issues financially, can we be sure they will still fund the education sector in ways they promised beforehand?

Labour has not yet stated they will go back on their 5.5% pay increase promise. However, there is concern that by continuing with this promise, there will be cuts and tax incentives in other areas. Including anxieties that with teacher pay increasing, essential budgets in schools not increasing, or tax rates for educational institutes going up.

There is no telling yet, but education unions are remaining loud and proud in their voice to the British Government regarding issues with pay and funding.

Staying Up To Date

As the climate of the economy and new government impacts the education sector, at BEST we will continue to stay on top of News and deliver updates as soon as we hear them.

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