At this year’s Labour Party Conference, the Education Policy Institute has partnered with NAHT to hold a public panel on: ‘The next four years: where to focus to achieve the Government’s opportunity mission?’
Labour’s 2024 manifesto was ambitious on education, promising to break down the barriers to opportunity for all children. Headline pledges included the recruitment of 6,500 new teachers; 3,000 new school-based nurseries; free breakfast clubs in every primary school; and curriculum and accountability reform.
One year into their term in office, the Department for Education has made strides to meet those promises: through the ‘Every Lesson Shapes a Life’ recruitment drive, accompanied by recruitment and retention financial incentives; a pilot school breakfast programme; the initial rollout of co-located nurseries in school in September 2025 and the ongoing independent Curriculum & Assessment Review. Alongside this, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is making its way through parliament, intending to improve safeguarding, improve inclusion through admission planning and introduce greater academy regulation. There has also been a focus on providing guidance and tools for safe and effective AI use in schools, though more support is needed.
However, many challenges in the system remain, particularly regarding soaring rates of child poverty, the continuing attrition of the school workforce and a SEND system that is unable to meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable children in our society. So what should be made of the achievements so far? And where should the Department for Education’s focus lie in the next four years to meet their mission?
This timely panel will bring together politicians, school leaders and other education stakeholders for a collaborative conversation on the Government’s next steps to achieve their opportunity mission. The panellists will discuss the first year of Government and which areas need greater attention and thinking from national policy, to truly achieve equitable education for all.
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.**
