Unions respond to EPI education recovery report

The National Education Union and the Association of School and College Leaders have commented on the Education Policy Institute’s analysis showing that a multi-year funding package of £10bn-£15bn is needed for education recovery

Commenting on the Education Policy Institute’s analysis paper of its preliminary research findings on education recovery, Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The National Education Union welcomes this important initial analysis by the Education Policy Institute looking at the scale of the challenge to help young people and their schools recover from the pandemic. 

“The educational divide has been growing over recent years. As the report points out British education has been blighted by increasing child poverty and that left many children extremely vulnerable when the pandemic struck. 

“We agree with the report’s conclusions that overcoming the pandemic is possible and that it should serve as a catalyst for sustained improvements in education. The scale of learning lost cannot be overcome by some short term, piecemeal measures such as catch-ups. This will require years of work and investment, not just in school but also extending the post-16 offer which has been cut so hard over the last decade.” 

“The report exposes the inadequacy of the government plan to spend just £250 per pupil on educational recovery, whereas the United States are spending £1,600 per pupil and the Netherlands £2,500. 

“We agree schools need a multi-year £15bn plan but for the plan to succeed we must also end the blight of child poverty – no longer can we allow children to come to school hungry.” 

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Before the Treasury throws up its hands in horror at these sums of money, let’s just remember that this would be spread across some 8.2m pupils over three years. A £15bn investment works out at about £610 per pupil per year – which is hardly an excessive ask given the scale of disruption caused by the pandemic.

“We are very supportive of the work of Sir Kevan Collins as education recovery commissioner and we look forward to seeing his recommendations in due course, but this has to be backed up with significant government funding. This report from the EPI gives the government a pretty good benchmark of what is required.

“It also makes the exceptionally good point that a recovery package must encompass early years and post-16 education. This is of vital importance and these sectors simply haven’t had anywhere near enough attention so far despite their obvious importance to the life chances of children and young people.

“It also makes the equally good point that the challenge ahead isn’t just about recovery but about addressing the deep and long-standing problem of the gap in educational attainment between disadvantaged children and their peers. This inequality has gone on for far too long, and significant strategic investment in early years, schools, and post-16 education is vital if the Prime Minister is serious about living up to his levelling up rhetoric.”