Election 2015 – where do the parties stand on education?

Election 2015 – where do the parties stand on education?

The election on 7 May 2015 looks like a tight-run race with no obvious winner from the poll ratings to date. Education is one of the top five issues that people care about most – what do the different parties promise? Here’s a quick guide:

Conservative: They will protect England’s education budget from reception to 16 year olds but funding will not keep pace with inflation. Pre-school and post-16 education is not ring fenced. They aim to convert up to 3,500 schools requiring improvement into academies. They promise ‘a war on literacy and numeracy’. State primary schools that fail pupil tests will be forced to become academies. There are plans for a professional College of Teachers. There are no announcements as yet on university tuition fees. The party is opposed to giving the vote to 16 and 17 year olds.

Labour: If elected, the party will increase the overall education budget by at least the rate of inflation. Per-pupil funding is not protected so there will be no further funds for rising pupil numbers. Class size at primary phase cannot exceed 30. Parents of primary age children are guaranteed childcare from 8am to 6pm. Free childcare for three and four year olds will be increased from 15 to 25 hours. A new School Partnership Standard will encourage greater contribution by independent schools to state education. There is support for a professional College of Teachers. The Labour Party has promised to cut university tuition fees to £6,000. The party is committed to 16 and 17 year olds voting.

Lib Dems: Protect the education budget from cuts. Guarantee qualified teachers and a core curriculum set by independent experts in all schools, including academies and free schools. More money for disadvantaged school children and free childcare for all two year olds. For young people aged 16-21, a two-thirds discount on local bus fares. There are no announcements as yet on university tuition fees. There is support for a professional College of Teachers. The Lib Dems support lowering the voting age to 16 for all elections.

UKIP: The party promises more grammar schools and scrapping sex education for children aged under seven. Scrap tuition fees for poorer students who follow the sciences, technology, maths or engineering. Greater emphasis on vocational education with new Apprenticeship Qualification Option. School governing bodies must have at least 30% parents of children at the school. Universities can charge the same amount for EU students as non-EU students.

Greens: The Greens promise to end performance related pay for teachers and to replace Ofsted with an independent National Council for Educational Excellence. Free schools and academies would be brought under local authority control. All teachers would need to be fully qualified. SATs and Year 1 phonic tests will be abolished. Parents could send their children to school at six if they wish. The National Curriculum is scrapped and all 16 and 17 year old allowed to vote. University tuition fees will be abolished.

So there are some fundamental differences in the policies of the main parties – where does your vote lie?

Jeff Hart
March 2015