This has been an interesting year in education. 2017 started with great anxiety over the proposed new common funding formula for schools. The government’s original version left many rural and small schools out of pocket and losing actual cash. The revised version just left them out of pocket. Indeed, from government data released in December, it seems secondary schools have been dipping into their reserves for the past three years; many primary schools are now having to do so as well.
The other key topic of interest a year ago, the creation of new selective schools, has fallen victim to the unexpected outcome of the general election. Apart from Brexit, it seems any contentious reform is not now being contemplated.
Selection as a topic has been replaced by social mobility as the key goal of government. Unfortunately for many areas, the funds are largely being targeted at key ‘opportunity areas’ that look suspiciously like the Education Action Zones once championed by the Blair government in the 1990s. Smaller pockets of deprivation, as can be found in many parts of the country, seem less likely to attract much if any additional funding above the Pupil Premium and free school meals.
There are worrying signs, including in the Report of the Chief Inspector, that some schools may be actually frustrating social mobility by offering challenging pupils the opportunity to be home educated or on a reduced timetable. Many of the parents do not have the background to challenge these decisions that can blight a child’s possible future almost as much as the alternative of a permanent exclusion.
Although there have been changes in the junior ministerial ranks, the Secretary of State has served throughout the year and is now approaching the point in her tenure when she is in the zone where many politicians find themselves either changing jobs or being removed from office in a reshuffle.
Teacher workload, pay and recruitment have once again dominated the teacher associations concerns during the year that has also seen the creation of a new association, with the coming together of the NUT and ATL.
The dead hand of the revolution initiated by Mr Gove, when he was Secretary of State, still affects schools, especially in the design of the curriculum and examinations where reforms take several years to reach full implementation.
The most worrying outcome of 2017 for schools was that following the general election spat between Labour and the Tories over university tuition fees, some £800 million appeared in the budget Red Book for student fee initiatives. That’s money that could have been spent in schools, FE or early years now diverted to the already most highly funded part of our education system.
So, what of 2018? Might we see a resolution of the academy and maintained school divide? Will the DfE really launch a free vacancy service in time for September 2018 and what will be the response of existing players if they do? How will the DfE save money to pay for social mobility programmes?
Above all, will the teacher supply crisis reach its zenith in 2018 and will the depressing numbers entering teacher preparation courses in September 2017, coupled with increases in school rolls, create a real sense of urgency to do something about the problem? Perhaps the pressure on school budgets will finally mean secondary schools are really forced to cut teaching posts and the shortage of trainees won’t matter. Time will tell.
John Howson 
I’m hearing continuing issues with the oversized GCSEs. In order to teach this enormous amount of ‘more work’, teachers are teaching GCSE content in KS3 in place of traditional KS3 subject knowledge. What this does is remove teacher agency in their ability to choose what and how to teach their subject. I can see their point. We teach English because being knowledgable and good at English is helpful for work, life and play. They are now teaching English because there is a GCSE exam. But the exam is there because learning English is helpful for work, life and play. I think the GCSE has lost sight of its original purpose.
James,
Thank you for the rapid response: literally minutes after I posted the piece.
Let’s be more radical and do away with GCSEs as expensive public examinations and have a standard at 18. As with the original NC, we need agreement as to what should be learnt by a typical pupil by when and not just by politicians. English is a complex language, and I never managed to get to grips with its complexity despite being at a selective school. In those days everyone said, scientists couldn’t write properly anyway, not that i was a scientist.
So, let’s agree what matters for the 21st century and the needs of the population as a whole. That must mean an even greater attention and support for early literacy in the primary school for those entering education lacking in basic skills. There’s £800 million in the budget Red Book for the spat between Labour and the Tories over tuition fees. Spent it on early literacy instead.
John
I think I am in full agreement John. Testing them at 16 is not helping them, teachers, society or employers. There is a strong consensus amidst teachers that I meet who would support your suggestion.
One thing we have said is to look at Physical Education as an example of a subject freed from GCSE delivery for all. It approaches its subject with a life time perspective – girls being as active as boys outside and after school, nutrition and diet, collaboration and mindfulness.
What would the other subjects look like if they were freed from testing a politically motivated curriculum at 16?
James,
Thanks. Schools need to understand the modern technology revolution, as do universities. Do we need to be able to learn new subjects from a standing start more often, but do we also need core skills for learning for life such as looking after our bodies and minds; being able to communicate effectively and to be sufficiently numerate to live satisfactory lives and allow the world to develop for the good of all human and non-human.
John
I have long argued for graduation at 18 which could include scaled-down exams at 16 and other routes. http://www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk/2015/06/lets-move-towards-graduation-at-18
Janet,
Glad we agree about this idea. Would you like to promote TeachVac http://www.teachvac.co.uk on the Network? We have been providing a free vacancy service to schools and teachers for more than 3 years now and are keen to spread the word even wider in 2018 ahead of the DfE’s latest attempt at a vacancy service.
John
Good idea. Something for the new year.
Janet,
Many thanks and best wishes for 2018.
John Howson
John – here it is: http://www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk/2018/01/cutting-the-cost-to-schools-of-teacher-recruitment-with-free-to-use-website
Janet,
Many thanks. TeachVac is now the largest site for teaching vacancies across England. It remains free to teachers and schools. We have launched TeachVac Global for the international school market and to attract teachers back to England.
John