Twigg's plans welcomed by school leaders

Released 21/02/2012

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has welcomed proposals by Shadow Education Secretary, Stephen Twigg, to introduce a politically-neutral Office for Educational Improvement to focus on standards and practice

Twigg plans for evidence-based education body have been welcomed by school leaders

Twigg is due to give details of Labour’s plans for educational reform in a speech this evening but has already outlined his ideas in an article in The Times today.

Russell Hobby, general secretary of the NAHT, said: “Stephen Twigg's discussion of Labour's priorities for education makes a refreshing change from the current barrage of criticism. Engaging the profession in change is always the best strategy and much more likely to succeed than top-down edicts.

“It is right to focus on the quality of the workforce rather than the distractions of structure and it is right to find a middle ground between the extremes of fashionable and conservative approaches. Our children need a combination of skills and knowledge as well as opportunities to develop resilience, initiative, empathy and curiosity.

“It is also right to seek more creative approaches to the school day and term: a good example of evidence in action. A genuinely progressive approach to education insists on both community and ambition, challenges vested interests and keeps what is best for children, not politicians, at the centre of the debate.”

Commenting on Twigg’s announcement, ASCL General Secretary Brian Lightman said: “ASCL has long advocated an independent body for education, equivalent to the Chief Medical Officer, which would provide a neutral, expert, policy-based perspective in the development of education policy. We are pleased that Stephen Twigg has recognised the value of this and has adopted it as Labour education policy. This is an excellent step towards making policy which is based on sound evidence rather than anecdotal experience or party politics. However, ASCL wants to see it taken a step further.

“For too long education policy has been a political football used by politicians on all sides, with the result that schools and colleges are continually criticised for not doing enough, rather than recognised for the vast improvements made. To create a world class education system, what is needed is a long-term commitment from politicians on all sides to a common education strategy.”

“Politicians from all parties need to discuss the evidence from academics and professionals, identify the fundamental factors that make a successful education system and agree to support key policies which give stability over the long term. This would guard against the upheaval and chaos that pupils, parents and teachers have experienced in the last 18 months, and ensure that young people’s education remains at the centre of policy.”

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