It is the perennial question of British politics: who is next in the ministerial sack race? For a while, it seemed, the answer was Bridget Phillipson – the minister waging a one-woman-war on the Tories’ school reforms. But today, the Times suggests that the Education Secretary has been told her job is safe, citing private text messages from Keir Starmer. That means she can press on with her Schools Bill which includes, among other measures, plans to limit the number of branded uniforms items schools can insist on.
This cap is being hailed as a way of keeping costs down – but Mr S wants to know if it will affect pupil performance. After all, as the Bill’s own impact assessment proudly boasts:
The Bill includes two measures that deliver manifesto commitments on free breakfast clubs and limiting the number of branded uniform items that schools can require. This is to support the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity by supporting children to arrive at school ready to learn.
Yet, in a recent response to a Freedom of Information request, the Department for Education (DfE) admitted that it made no assessment on how the cap would impact social cohesion in schools, student performance or behaviour in classrooms. Asked for ‘assessments made’ by DfE on how the change would affect each of the aforementioned areas, an FOI officer replied meekly:
Following a search of the Department’s paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by this Department.
Sub-optimal to say the least. Asked for comment, a DfE spokesman said that ‘“Our Plan for Change is removing barriers to opportunity, with limits on branded items of school uniform just one of the steps we’re taking to put money back into parents’ pockets and break the link between background and success.’ Hmm. Let’s hope the other steps have more rigour eh?
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