Good afternoon,
In a speech today, I set out the government’s vision for high and rising standards in every school, so that every child can achieve and thrive. Working in partnership with you, we are delivering our opportunity mission and putting the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change into action.
While visiting schools of different shapes and sizes, I see your dedication to driving high and rising standards in the pursuit of the best life chances for all children, breaking down the barriers to opportunity.
Your passion and expertise are one of our system’s main strengths. And I know you all share my sense responsibility to the children of this country. When it comes to their education, we all have a duty to drive improvement wherever we can.
The opportunity to succeed must be the right of every child. That’s my vision for education – and I know it’s a vision that each of you share. And to achieve that, the way we work with you to unlock improvement and spread best practice needs to evolve.
I am raising the bar of expectation, challenging all schools to tackle poor performance and achieve better outcomes for all our children.
This comes with a change in the spirit of accountability and intervention. It will be a relationship of common aims and shared responsibility – one of challenge but with support. We will take an approach that recognises, above all, that we all want to see children achieving and thriving.
For those schools that have been struggling for some time, we need to act with even greater urgency, as our children can’t afford to wait.
Through new regional improvement teams, known as RISE teams, we will work alongside schools to drive the improvements needed to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has the education they deserve.
When I first became Secretary of State, I said I wanted to draw on your wisdom – and that your voices would always be heard.
So as we move into this new era of accountability, I am asking leaders, teachers and parents in your communities to respond to two key consultations that will shape the next chapter of accountability and improvement in our schools:
- I would like to hear your views on our proposals for school accountability reform.
- And Ofsted are consulting on their plans for report cards and inspection structures.
The more responses we receive, the better we can shape these plans and shine a light on everything a school does to support its pupils.
I’d also like to ask you, those working in and with schools, to join me tomorrow for a live online event where I will answer your questions and go into more detail of how we work together to secure a better future for all children.
I know that I am asking more of schools, of trusts, and of Ofsted. I am asking more of myself and of our government too. Because I know if we all come together, we can drive the change that the children of this country deserve.
| Bridget Phillipson |
| Secretary of State for Education |