Guest Post: "Education is about partnership – and we owe it to all our children to work together in their best interests" - Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson MP's back to school message for parents

[SophiaCMumsnet]

I love back to school week. Sending my children off to school on their first day back, I’m always sad (and maybe a little relieved!) to see them go, but I think forward with such excitement to what the new school year will bring for them. New friends, new experiences, new opportunities.

You all know that familiar mix of feelings as they walk through the school gates once again – nervous, excited, hopeful. If you’re anything like me though, overall, you just want them to do well and be happy.

As parents, we all want the best for our children, both in school and beyond. We want them to grow up happy and healthy, to get a good job, and to be able to buy a nice house.

I understand those aspirations – I share them for my own children and, as Education Secretary, for yours. That’s why this job is the greatest privilege of my life. I want to make sure each and every child gets the best start in life, to ensure that where you’re from doesn’t determine where you end up. By breaking the link between background and future success, we can break down barriers to opportunity and give all children the skills they need to thrive.

Education lies at the heart of this change we all want to see. And education means more than maths or English or science, as important as they are. An excellent, whole-childhood education journey builds a lifelong love of learning, nurtures a sense of belonging, and creates connections that last for years to come. A good education gives our children strong foundations and sets them up for work and for life.

High and rising standards in all of our schools is at the heart of our plan. My offer to you is this: I’ll support your children taking their first steps into learning. I’ll put 6,500 new expert teachers in classrooms across the country. I’ll introduce free breakfast clubs in all primary schools. I’ll improve professional careers advice and work experience. I’ll expand support for families by rolling out funded childcare. I’ll review the curriculum, making it richer and broader, setting all children up to thrive now and in the future. I’ll boost mental health support across our schools and reform provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

I’m ambitious for our children and for our country. But government can’t achieve all this in isolation. I want to work in partnership with you to deliver the very best life chances for our children. We all have responsibilities – you as parents, us as government, and schools do too. I want to reset these relationships, rebuild trust and work together for the benefit of all our children.

I need all parents to play their part too. Every child is different and you know your child best. I know that every child has different needs, but one thing that can have the biggest positive impact for children is making sure they go to school. When things are working well and children have the right support, ambition, opportunities, belonging, all come from being in school. However excellent our teachers, they can’t teach children who aren’t there. As I put in place measures to drive high and rising standards in schools, children who are absent won’t feel the benefit of them.

Attendance from day one really matters. Children who miss a day at the beginning of a new term are much more likely to be persistently absent for the rest of the school year. So my ask of you for this back to school week is simple, but crucial. If you make sure your children are where they belong - in school - schools are there by your side to support you in this, and so is government.

Education is about partnership – and we owe it to all our children to work together in their best interests. As a new September rolls round, let’s use this moment to fix our foundations, begin the work of rebuilding Britain. Happy back to school week!

The ‘put up or shut up’ is outrageous. It’s a bit like her deleting comments with an opposing narrative from social media. Someone may need to give our new Minister of Education a refresher course on freedom of speech and democracy 🤷🏼‍♀️

They tell on themselves when they focus on attendance. There are disabled, chronically ill, Neurodivergent and disadvantaged kids out there who don't have a choice.

I have Autistic children and am unable to work due to disability. One attends a specialist school but the other child apparently isn't Autistic enough to get help and was utterly broken by mainstream PRIMARY school.

My husband works and because WE prioritise our child's education and mental health, we forgo so much so we can pay for an independent school for our youngest. I immediately saw that SENDCOs are supposed to be on our side, not another person with whom to battle over reasonable adjustments, support and equal opportunities for all pupils! Without the pressure from the (government) LA and the what-about-the-other-children culture in state schools - SEN children get the support and opportunities they need.

I would never send my ND kid to a state High School - the trauma for NT is a right of passage as it is - he'd get eaten alive. It is disgusting that because of your policies (in the interests of ALL children!!!) the only option for my SEN kid is homeschooling and tutors.

How can you justify taxing independent school fees (paid out of highly taxed income) which will result in 10000s of children, many with special needs, leaving schools they are happy at?

State education needs way more investment than the few hundred million this will raise (if it raises anything at all). This is just a smokescreen to hide the fact that education is not a priority for this government in terms of funding.

State schools are going to end up with higher class sizes and more children will not get their first choice of school. Catchment sizes will shrink. Grammar schools will be even more competitive.

I'm afraid the only conclusion is that you WANT to destroy independent schools and that you WANT children and parents to suffer.

Wow, what utter diatribe she spouts. If only she could properly research the impact of VAT on independent schools. The numbers already flocking away, the fact space availability in local authorities are rare if any at all. Why are parents being asked to prove they couldn't afford the fees with VAT before being considered for a waitlist place? How are the LAs going to accommodate the surge of SEN pupils that they can ill afford to provide for now? Why does no one ever point out that Keir Starmer went to a Grammar School, accepting a full bursary to stay there when it turned fee paying? The very thing a lot of people rely on to give access to their children when they would never have been able to take a place. The charity the independent schools provide in local authorities - swimming pools, sports grounds, libraries.... ill thought out, illogical. This is not leveling the playing field, rather a tax of envy. The Lords were concise and succinct in calling this for what it is 'wicked, stupid and cruel'. What there debate in full - it is worth it. It highlights all the errors in costing and the effects this will have on the state system. Let's see where the 6,500 teachers come from, a number still not enough to provide one for each setting. With the bulge classes needed from January, she's going to have to rethink this number and triple it.

Doing this mid year is going to bring on a mental health crisis for children who have to move. It is unfair and demoralising for the receiving schools, particularly when the children have SEN needs (but, to date, have avoided the ECHP process).

There is going to be no financial saving to the public purse. It will cost far more to accomodate these children.

As I just told my MP, I voted Labour for the first time this year, believing that they wanted what was best for the country. Unfortunately I have been feeling as if my family are collateral damage in some misguided class warfare mission. We all know that the Etonians showed no compassion to those not as privileged as themselves, but the politics of envy appears to be equally cruel from where I am sitting.

My friend's son has been denied a space in his local state Junior school from the state Infant school because there's no space for him despite his older brother already attending.

Where are the additional children going to go? You're going to have classes of over 30 children in schools with no provision for those children with SEN, no adequate space. It's a joke.

Don't tell me you care about children when there are kids who can't even attend their school because it's already at capacity.

Whilst we're on the subject of SEN kids, my daughter has a memory processing disorder and I can tell you with absolute certainty that she will suffer in a state school. She'll get left behind and fail because there aren't enough teachers to be able to help out those who struggle despite how hard they work. Seeing as she finds it hard enough in a class of 12 with 1 teacher, 1 teaching assistant and regular SEN lessons, I fail to understand how you think a state education will benefit her. It won't so don't tell me you care about children's education. You don't.

There are two things that need serious investment. Education and healthcare. But we are potentially investing in education by taxing education. What about those families of children in years 9, 10 and 11 - can we at least see some protection from big fee increases for them as moving to a state school in options/GCSE years is detrimental, or at least for parents with children in these years have some kind of means testing? There’s only so much fees can go up by until it just becomes completely unaffordable at which point the savings you think you’ll see, unfortunately won’t materialise. No wonder people want to leave this country. There is no point in ambition or working hard anymore.

My parents were working class and didnt go to university. I’m probably the first one in our immediate family to go to university and have the ambition to do well. But because of this my son will now need 3 A*’s at A-level to go to medical school, whereas if I hadn’t of even tried and just sponged off the state my son could go to medical school potentially with 2 A’s and a B. How is this fair ? What is the point of ambition if that ambition and opportunity then is taken away from our kids ?

"I want to make sure each and every child gets the best start in life".
We all do. That is why we, as a family, scrimp and save, both work hard, take UK holidays in our 30 year old caravan, buy 2nd hand tv's, cars etc so that we can just about afford to put our 2 children into the local grammar school. That is likely to change in January as we are not going to be able to afford the 17% fee hike that is being imposed by this evil, envious government. Instead, our 2 girls will be forced to change to state schools at heaven only knows what cost to their mental health, already worrying of the likely bullying coming their way for being a 'posh' kid, putting more burden on the failing state system. But never mind, each school will have less than 1 new teacher to miraculously turn around this floundering joke of an enducation system.

As part of this educational "partnership", is the MP going to respond to any of the points raised? Or even read them?

If you only read one comment, Bridget Phillipson, please read this one ☝. There are a lot of very important points here.

I’d like to think she is reading the comments: ‘reading the room’ as they say and I’d also like to think in her heart that she is starting to realise that the policy of charging VAT on private school fees is perhaps not the way to go about it and more time and investigation is needed. She has been warned and her whole political career and legacy rests on this being right. Is she that sure that she is doing the right thing when so many people are saying otherwise? Sometimes courage is knowing when you are wrong and choosing a different path.

I don't think she's reading any comments, unfortunately. This isn't even her post, just something probably manned by an intern in her office. If that.

Many SEND children (including one of mine) have been moved to more supportive and more flexible environments in independent schools without government support. This will now be much more difficult and the pressure on state schools will be worse. My daughter doesn't need CAMHS or mental health support in an environment that can adapt to her but very likely she will if I have to move her and so will the other children in the same boat. Sad times when the policy to fund improvements will disproportionately impact SEND students.

this is a non sense message : you want to do plenty while inflicting a tax on education. YOu have launched a campagin for 6500 teacher and seems only a few hundreds have applied, you speak about hundred of thousand that will received further breakfast without saying how you come up with such figure and you eliminate an offstead rating just because it was planned already by the previous governement.

Yup.
Agree so much with this post.
I'd like to understand what the Government plan to do to make teaching a job hat people want to do again.

Platitudes about 'providing X number of teachers' don't tell us how you are going to do this. There haven't been huge shortages of people choosing to start teaching, as a whole, but once they find out what it is like, they leave. That is the issue. So you need to listen to all the teachers leaving (the 1/2 million or so in the 'Exit the Classroom' Facebook group could be a starting point) and see why they are leaving, and do something about rectifying that.

I'm going to go against the grain here as a parent and teacher ( both myself and DH). As a parent, you are your child's primary educator. The state school system is far from perfect. As a teacher it is bloody hard work and insanely stressful. However, it is currently what it is and the only solution is to chuck shed loads more money at it. I have little sympathy for those that are crying due to private VAT increases. If it's that important to you, give up some of your other luxuries. Our children both attend the local comp. The grammar school 40mins away was never an option as it was to others locally. DD has just started in 6th form after achieving a set of GCSEs I am in awe of. She works hard and is fully supported by both her parents. We have very little spare money but choose to spend it carefully on ensuring that the short falls that the state education system are made up by us. Because that's our job as parents. There has been no private tutors, no endless after school clubs, and no pressure. But a consistent message of books are brilliant, fresh air and exercise is important ( and free) and that we fully support everything school does. Even the daft school uniform rules. We eat together as a family most evenings and talk to each other. Phones stay downstairs at bedtime. We visit museums and galleries where ever possible ( often for free). Our children love school. They make the most of the opportunities available to them supported by us ( often at massive inconvenience but hey ho). I read so many posts on here where parents aren't happy with a decision school has made or a rule or policy. Choose your battles and never let your children hear you say anything negative about school or a member of staff. I see it so often even with very young children, and it has an impact on them in class. Teachers do their best in the circumstances that they are in and we really do put the children first. For those that are saying they have no choice but to send their previously privately educated children to the local comp, please don't be negative about this in front of your DDs and moan when it all goes shit shaped for them. Every child deserves a decent education. School can only do do much. As parents, it's our job to do the rest as we know our children better than anyone. I'm sure I'll get flamed for this. Crack on.

Dear Bridget,
Are you saying...
"I’m happily benefiting from a free ride for my children, sending them to one of the best state schools while taking spots from children who actually need them and costing you, dear taxpayer, a neat £8k per child? Actually, £8k is just the start. With all those kids moving from private to state schools, the cost of transporting those living far from their new state schools will skyrocket too. And don’t forget, councils will keep draining taxpayers' money on tribunal fees for SEND children. But hey, some of you can still have what I have! Remember what I said back in 2023: 'My children are incredibly fortunate and have lots of opportunities.'
As for those shiny 6,500 new teachers... I have no clue where that number came from, where they’re going to come from, or even when we’ll hit that target, but it sure sounds good, doesn’t it? After all, who needs facts when we can sell hope—especially during election season. Thanks for your votes! We couldn’t keep power without your partnership!
I can’t answer all your questions right now, but here’s something I can guarantee: larger class sizes and fewer resources for your children! Think of all the new friends they’ll make while learning survival skills in overcrowded classrooms. Isn’t real life about survival and competition anyway? We need to prepare them for real life at a young age.
And let’s not forget the bonus—no more free access to next-door private school facilities like swimming pools or playgrounds. Those independents are closing down faster than we anticipated, thanks to our brilliant tax raid. Aren’t you thrilled?
Specialist help for SEND kids? Good luck with that. Waiting lists are already longer than a rainy British weekend, but don’t worry, it’s only going to get worse. At least if your child’s already in a state school, you might stay ahead in the queue over the flood of new transfers from private schools.
Oh, and the competition for state school spots? Unless you’re paying a small fortune for private tutoring (and your child is an exam killer material), you might as well start preparing for a backup plan for your child. The influx of private school dropouts will definitely raise the bar for sought-after state schools. So, why not prepare to shell out for private school? The good news for you who already own a catchment area property is our tax raid will make it much more expensive! Oops, pardon me, don’t count on that 20-30% property price hike in your catchment area helping you—it’ll just evaporate with Reeves’ CGT raid.
If you really want the best for your children, like I do, there’s only one real option: private school unless you are capable to homeschool them. Just be prepared to kiss those little luxuries, holidays, house renovation project, pension pot and your retirement savings goodbye. I'm only sharing with you this top secret because many existing private schools parents rarely reveal how they can afford school fees esp they actually earn much less than me!!
And here’s a final tip: Avoid the smaller independent schools—they’re closing faster than my interest in solving these issues. Unless you want to get caught in the downfall, steer clear.
As for those of you with SEND kids... well, sorry. I wouldn’t know—I don’t have kids in that category nor I had any experience. But remember my testimony, "education has given me freedom and opportunities I never imagined, so… chin up."
In short, I’m here to sell you a dream, I need your partnership to keep the dream flourishing, while in reality, it’s more likely a nightmare for most of you. But don’t worry— I’m committed to creating opportunities and closing the inequality gap, while your children’s futures dangle by a thread."

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Fab post

once they find out what it is like, they leave. That is the issue

This.

You don’t need to ‘put’ teachers in schools, you need to keep them there.

How can you do that? If graduates can choose a better paid job, where they aren’t micromanaged, aren’t kicked, bitten and sworn at, aren’t only as good as their last observation and can work from home two days a week, people won’t choose teaching. It’s a relentless hamster wheel where you’re never good enough and your work is never ever half done.

The previously enticing holidays and pension aren’t enough to keep people in the job. Why would they want to work 55/60 hour weeks to be vilified by parents and in the press and have to spend their days on anti-depressants and their holidays burnt out?

We need huge changes in teaching and if your only plans are a ‘free breakfast club’ and ‘putting a nursery in your free classroom’, nothing will change. That’s tinkering with childcare-not sorting out education.

No of course not

Retention of staff should be your key focus, not new teachers. They’ll just leave like the current lot. There are many experienced, amazing teachers out there that have left the profession, you need to focus on changing the system to get them back and stop even more leaving

and
once they find out what it is like, they leave. That is the issue

and
You don’t need to ‘put’ teachers in schools, you need to keep them there.

"How can you do that?" is very much the question you should be asking.

Just in my own small world, I know of 5 teachers who have walked out (to no job) THIS YEAR alone. 2x ECTs 1 who had done 5 years 1 who had done over 30 years 1 who had done 10 years or so, got another job, then tried to go back in to the classroom again about 10 years later after a house move.

You need to ask them all why, and then make those changes.

Your story is heartbreaking😢

I wouldn’t flame you, quite the opposite. Apart from your allergy to paragraphs. Perhaps you teach maths. (That is a good-natured joke.)

Your post is excellent and I agree wholeheartedly with it. If only more parents took a consistently supportive line with both their children and the school we’d have a much better state school system.

Sadly, though, there are too many feckless parents and too many chaotic, intimidating and unhappy school experiences for too many children. That’s why I’d like from government some plain speaking and some proposals for effective school management and improvement. Not, therefore, nauseatingly folksy statements from Ministers of State about ‘partnerships’.

Good lord ! I would love to be sending my year 10 daughter back to school this week- unfortunately I'm so concerned her small independent school in Cornwall will be forced to shut by your ridiculously ill thought out policy of adding school fees mid term that I have had to remove her to home school for her GCSEs. I was totally forced in to this decision but your desire to " only care about the 93 percent of students in the state sector and not the 7 percent in the independent sector " direct quote from your MPs.- You should be holding your heads in shame at the way you are treating children and pensioners in this country.

If every child is different, why are you introducing a tax on education so that many of those different children can’t access the education they need? My daughter will have to leave her school mid GCSEs, so far we’ve been told there are no places for her?! So I’ll have to stop working to home school or hope that a local school will stuff their classes with extra kids and she’ll have to try and learn a years work in a few months because the examining boards are different. She will never get a statement of needs as she copes pretty well. But this is making her anxiety and depression leap.
Having spent many months looking at all the data I can find, i really don’t see any reason to penalise these children, especially in exam years, without hard evidence this plan will work and without creating extra school spaces for those leaving independence education. I would just love an actual explanation of the thought processes behind this. I can really only see the version where schools stop being involved with the wider community, find ways to reclaim much of their vat, start thinking like businesses and not schools. The loss of resources and facilities that many independent schools share with local state schools will be so detrimental to children. Are you going to provide drama, sport and music facilities to all state schools through this VAT?
Also are you going to stop state schools having catchment areas and instead have them take pupils from each education band? It seems to me that the state school system is no different to independent schools, with the rich spending vast amounts on houses, I wish I could have lived in a good catchment area but it was cheaper to find a reasonably priced independent than it was to live near the good secondary schools locally!
so many questions I’m sure will never be answered……