Schools reform in England was one of the crowning achievements of the last period of Conservative government. Initiated under New Labour, the agenda was massively expanded from 2010 onwards – now more than half of all state schools are academies. The reforms pioneered school freedom and choice, enabled the creation of successful multi-academy trusts and allowed best practice to shine. Free schools are among the best in England. And reform moved English schools towards a more rigorous and knowledge rich curriculum. Schools in England shot up international league tables, yet schools in Wales have not.
Labour’s Schools Bill now risks undermining two decades of progress in schools reform by turning the clock back on academisation. Join our Director, Sir Simon Clarke, for an in conversation with the Shadow Education Secretary, Laura Trott MBE MP, to discuss the likely impact of the Bill on our schools and what should be done instead.
