Expert Education Commentary: National Foundation for Educational Research

The National Foundation for Educational Research's policy updates, analyses and news on education and related issues for the UK 2015 general election can be found here. NFER improves education and learning,
and hence the lives of learners, by providing independent evidence. The commentary that follows has been produced independently of Full Fact.

NFER have reviewed the education topics covered by the main parties' manifestos to to consider whether they cover the key issues any government will face after May 7th. We have identified areas that are pretty well covered but we are concerned that the manifestos are missing some wider strategic points (for example teacher supply, and the importance of good quality childcare). We have identified some areas that are only covered in a selection of the manifestos, and issues that ought to be more thoroughly questioned by the other parties and the electorate (for example school governance, adult skills and Ofsted). There are also some areas that no-one is talking about and NFER would like to see a broadening of the education discussion especially in the area of NEETs.

We're going to need more teachers

All parties discuss teacher training and qualifications. The Conservatives lay out measures to 'recruit and keep the best teachers' and Labour say they will 'encourage teaching quality by creating new career routes for teachers who are expert in their subject'. Furthermore, the Conservatives emphasise that they believe teachers should be 'regarded in the same way as other highly skilled professionals'.

However none of the parties directly address a looming shortfall of teachers. Pupil numbers are rising, the economy is recovering (raising the prospect of increased competition for talented graduates), and there are already pressures in some subject areas. A crisis point may soon be reached.

In fact, some of the promised measures could further confound the problem, with reduced class sizes (Labour) requiring even more teachers, and raising the bar to entering the teaching profession (Lib Dems) potentially reducing the pool of potential applicants.

The quality of childcare is even more important than the quantity

All manifestos speak about an entitlement to free childcare for working families; however these discussions frequently focus on the parents (particularly enabling them to work) rather than the children. How will the next Government ensure that quality is maintained and improved as the quantity of provision increases? This is particularly important given the critical role of a child's early years in shaping their future life course.

It may not be a vote winner, but governance matters

Whoever becomes Secretary of State after the election, the part of the education system which lies between them and headteachers will remain a murky one for most people. The Select Committee report on events in Birmingham concluded that 'the sheer number of organisations which became involved indicated the complexity of emerging oversight arrangements for schools'.

Both Labour and the Lib Dems suggest that there should be more opportunities for 'local intervention'. There is already a new middle tier that has been introduced by the Conservatives, namely Regional School Commissioners; however these are not mentioned in their manifesto. The Lib Dems say they will abolish Regional School Commissioners whilst Labour would introduce Directors of School Standards (a role that would result in the abolition of Regional School Commissioners too).

NFER would like to see an increase in clarity around all these levels — as well as local authorities — so that schools, pupils and parents can easily understand the accountability structure of the English education system.

Don't neglect adult skills

All the manifestos discuss skills, but few address lifelong learning. In the main, references to skills in the manifestos are limited to those acquired by young people in formal (and compulsory) education settings. However, international evidence suggests that the competitiveness of our workforce depends in part on high levels of skills acquisition throughout adult life.

Most parties are saying very little about an issue of particular concern to schools: Ofsted

Ofsted is mentioned in passing in most manifestos, but they do not set out detailed proposals for how the inspection regime might work in future. This is despite the looming prominence of the inspectorate in the professional life of every teacher, and the fact that even small changes in the inspection framework can have major consequences for schools. Reforms to Ofsted could therefore be one of the most significant actions a new government takes—so the main parties should be discussing what they are going to do and when.

We still have Neets

With the raising of the participation age to 18, and an overall increase in employment, the issue of young people not in education, employment or training has fallen off the radar. Although there are commitments from parties to increase the quality of education provision post-16, including vocational qualifications, there will almost certainly remain a cohort of young people, often with complex barriers to learning or employment, who get left behind. It is important that all political parties maintain a focus on this vulnerable group of young people and how to address their needs.