Over the coming six weeks Labour is launching a Summer Campaign detailing our policy programme for a fairer and more equal Britain. Throughout this campaign the Labour Policy Forum wants to hear your ideas on the challenges we face and to help build on our progressive policies for the many, not the few.
This week is education week. With the education system in crisis, Labour’s 2017 manifesto set out plans to establish a National Education Service, built on the principal that every child and adult matters. It will incorporate all forms of education to address major challenges in the system.
Challenges like the 613,000 pupils in state-funded schools being taught by unqualified teachers amid ongoing low teacher recruitment.
Challenges like the more than half a million pupils who are now crammed into supersize classrooms, including almost 40,000 primary pupils in classes of over 36 pupils and over 16,000 in class sizes of at least 40.
Labour’s policy set out in our manifesto is to guarantee that every teacher has qualified status, to reduce class sizes and drive up the quality of teaching in classrooms to ensure every child has access to a world-class education.
Closing the skills gap is essential to securing our post-Brexit future, yet during the last Parliament there were 1.3 million fewer adult learners, with fewer courses available in further education colleges.
Labour will introduce free, lifelong education and properly invest in further education colleges, alongside expanding apprenticeships and ensuring high-quality programmes. Labour’s approach to adult education and apprenticeships will give learners the skills to succeed in the 21st Century.
What do you think?
We want you to get involved and help build on our manifesto pledges. By posting on our website you can give your ideas around key challenges in education, submit a new policy idea or highlight an aspect of education that you think should be addressed.
Find out how to make a submission here: https://www.policyforum.labour.org.uk/about/get-involved
Find out more on Labour’s education policy here: http://www.labour.org.uk/index.php/manifesto2017/towards-a-national-education-service
