6 December 2017
School Standards Minister, Nick Gibb, gave an assured speech at the annual Freedom and Autonomy for Schools National Association (FASNA) autumn conference on 2nd November 2017 claiming that, largely due to government reforms, teachers are now free to pursue the teaching methods they deem to be most effective.
The FASNA provides an independent voice in the nation’s education debates, and argues for the empowerment of teachers and the pursuit of evidence-based policies that enable schools to raise standards for all pupils. In his speech to the conference, Mr Gibb declared that the government’s education reforms have resulted in the devolution of decision making, allowing teachers to make informed decisions rather than be dictated by higher levels in the education system.
He told delegates “By combining greater autonomy, raised expectations and a level playing field for all, the school system has gone from strength to strength…. By empowering teachers and head teachers and promoting an atmosphere of innovation and evidence, power is wrestled from the old authorities. Ideas are weighed in, and, if they are found wanting, they can be discarded….No longer does the scourge of the ‘Ofsted teaching style’ dictate pedagogy in English classrooms. Now, teachers are free to pursue and debate the most effective teaching methods.”
Stating that teachers have “seized back their profession”, Mr Gibb said that the government’s push to create academies and free schools has created a wave of teachers that provide “insight and commentary and challenge from the classroom”, making redundant those who seek to speak for teachers. He stated that the government has stepped back to allow teachers, schools and multi-academy trusts to have “control over their destiny.” The Minister’s full speech can be read here.
Undoubtedly the evolution of our education system continues but do teachers have real autonomy? The Minister’s comments differ greatly with those made by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable who last month stated that increased government targets and data demands have “infantilised” teachers who were being “told what they had to do” by the government. Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, also questions Mr Gibb’s claims, writing for TES that “teachers will only have real autonomy when the government allows them to say no to the latest stupid fad”, adding “professional decisions about the curriculum, when subject choice is so constrained by the government, becomes subordinate to the accountability measures upon which a school’s position in the league table is determined.”
Mr Gibb did admit in his speech that challenges remain, but he was keen to stress that teachers and headteachers control the levers over school improvement and parents exercise choice. It is certainly the case that the growth of the academy and free school programme has resulted in schools taking on increased freedom and responsibility in relation to structural autonomy. However, whether decision making has really been ‘truly been localised and professionalised’, as Mr Gibb claims, is a statement I believe is still up for debate.
If you’d like to share your views, please tweet us @UHYHackerYoung, get in touch with me or please contact your local UHY academy expert.
