When the new PM takes office their in tray will be overflowing with issues that need immediate attention and decisions that can’t be ducked such as the cost of living crisis, especially energy prices, and the increasing number of planned strikes from barristers to bin men.
The severe challenges faced by the education sector are likely to be a lower priority for a new Prime Minister reacting to these immediate crises.
But educational institutions are not immune from these either – inflation impacts on the real value of tuition fees for universities, and schools are having to deal with rising heating and food costs like the rest of us.
Without a committed Secretary of State for Education who has the chance to really champion the sector and get to grip with the issues, we will see a decline in our schools, universities and further education institutions.
Leadership is key. In the last three years under Boris Johnson’s Premiership, there have been four Secretaries of State – the longest serving of which was Gavin Williamson who was in post for just over two years and the shortest of which was Michelle Donelan at just two days.
And things weren’t much better under Boris’ predecessor, Theresa May, with Justine Greening and Damian Hinds both in post for fewer than two years. Stability and continuity both being vital, the sector needs strong leadership and someone prepared to listen and relish the inevitable difficult discussions with the Treasury.
Both leadership candidates have spoken very personally about education, Liz Truss making a great play of her comprehensive school background and Rishi Sunak about the hard work of his parents which gave him the opportunity of a scholarship at Winchester. Sunak has committed to expanding existing grammar schools whilst Truss supports the expansion of academies.
As a former education Minister, Liz Truss’s suggestion that all candidates with 3A*at A-level should be automatically entitled to an interview at Oxbridge raised eyebrows in some quarters.
And as we all know the new Chancellor will be just as important in terms of the future direction and success of the education sector.
As we wait for the appointment of the new Prime Minister and their team, never has it been so important for the sector to come together and ensure that its voice is heard and its role recognised in helping tackle the significant challenges facing the country.
By Fiona Holroyd, Director at Paternoster Communications
