At this year’s Labour Party Conference, the Education Policy Institute has partnered with the Association of School and College Leaders to hold a public panel on: ‘How can education reforms be delivered in a way that is sustainable for the teaching workforce?’
Teacher workload and wellbeing, and in turn retention, is one of the biggest challenges facing the education sector currently. The number of teachers reporting that they have an unmanageable workload is increasing year on year, and the expectations on teachers and schools is only set to increase as a result of the government’s extensive reform agenda.
In the last year, we have seen the announcement of new Ofsted inspection guidelines, the implementation of a refreshed national curriculum, including the introduction of a new enrichment entitlement – through the Curriculum and Assessment Review – and the publication of the Schools White Paper. In order to implement these reforms effectively, teachers will be required to undergo significant specialised training, notably with SEND-specific development programmes being introduced from this Autumn.
With many schools already providing a wide range of non-educational support to their pupils, families and communities, the addition of these new requirements means that schools and teachers will have an even greater workload – putting the government’s policy agenda at risk of failure. Success requires a highly motivated workforce with sufficient capacity, together with school leaders who are energised to drive the required change in their settings.
This panel discussion will bring together policymakers, education leaders and sector experts to discuss how to ensure the government’s proposed reforms are achievable, considering the capacity limitations already placed on the school workforce. In particular, it will discuss what is needed from policymakers and the wider sector to motivate and retain teachers and teaching assistants – and to safeguard their wellbeing – during this period of significant change and increasing expectations on the sector.
Speakers will be announced in due course.
** Note: This event will take place in the conference secure zone. To access the secure zone you will need to obtain a pass directly from the Labour Party.**
