The Education Committee has launched a new inquiry on school reform, after the government announced major proposals for reform in February’s Schools White Paper.
School leaders and teachers are being urged to come forward and submit feedback to guide the committee’s work.
The inquiry will not cover special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reform, which the Committee is scrutinising separately.
The Committee has today published a call for evidence on a range of topics related to school reform, including:
- The government’s ambition to raise attain and reduce the disadvantage gap, including by reforming accountability measures such as Progress 8 and Attainment 8 scores;
- Whether the government’s proposals are adequately tackling the reasons driving persistent absence, particularly among disadvantaged pupils;
- The likely impact of proposed reforms to disadvantage funding, including the introduction of a stepped funding model and the use of household income measures;
- What challenges the expectation for all state-funded schools to join or form a school trust will have on school autonomy, governance and accountability, and what role local authorities will play in establishing trusts and co-ordinating services;
- How enrichment activities such as arts, sports and citizenship can improve pupil wellbeing and whether the proposed Pupil Engagement Framework could enhance enjoyment of school;
- The feasibility of the government’s target to recruit 6,500 additional teachers, and the effectiveness of retention measures such as the new teacher retention programme and financial incentives for headteachers.
Chair of the Education Committee, Helen Hayes MP, said:
“In February the government published the Schools White Paper and proposals for SEND reform. The immediate focus was understandably on their proposals to reform the broken SEND system.
But alongside the SEND reform proposals, the government also announced other major reforms that will affect children and schools across England.
From efforts to close the attainment and disadvantage gaps, to pupils’ enjoyment of school, to teacher recruitment and retention, our new inquiry will explore these issues in detail and hold the government to account on its plans.
We’re taking evidence until the end of July and I encourage anyone with experience of these issues to submit your views.”
