Rachel Reeves’ effect has engulfed the DfE, and this isn’t something that can be kicked to the next spending review. The impact hits in 2028–29. A £6 billion black hole cannot be wished away. Pretending otherwise insults the intelligence of parents and teachers.
Last week, MPs on the cross-party Education Select Committee described the government’s pledge as not only “unclear” but said the Government “lacks a coherent plan.” Words that could sum up the entire agenda of this Labour government.
For twenty years, politicians in both main parties have agreed on what has worked in our school system. That academies – by virtue of the freedoms they enjoy – are critical to improving standards. Now Labour’s changed its mind.
Under their last government the number of pupils sitting core academic subjects halved, we plummeted down international league tables, and the attainment gap at A level widened.
The real injustice today is not that the old consensus around higher education and future employment is being questioned. It is that a generation is living with its consequences long after the whole system stopped working for them.