This paper evaluates two decades of education policy in England, offering an analysis of reforms from the Thatcher era through successive Labour and Conservative governments. It highlights systemic shifts such as the rise of multi-academy trusts, accountability mechanisms, and socio-economic disparities. The document underscores persistent challenges, including funding cuts, teacher retention issues, widening inequality, and the growing burden on schools to address mental health and special education needs. Drawing on historical data, it assesses policy impacts on academic standards, equity, and long-term educational trends, while raising critical questions for future reforms. Authored by education policy expert Sam Freedman, it sets out a surprisingly consistent journey.
Authors
Related Organizations
- Pages
- 57
- Published in
- United Kingdom
Table of Contents
- Sam Freedman 2
- Historical background The 1980s to 1997 11 3
- New Labour 1997 - 2010 14 3
- The Coalition and Conservatives 2010 - 2024 17 3
- Labour 2024- 25 3
- Changes between groups 35 3
- Other measures of success 43 3
- Pastoral measures 47 3
- School spending 4
- Policy changes 4
- Overall 5
- Young people from low-income families 6
- Wider challenges 7
- It is hard to see how many of the challenges schools face from teacher recruitment through to a run-down school estate will be fixed without investment. 8
- There are also questions for the new government on where best to focus efforts to tackle disadvantage. 8
- Other challenges facing schools including a lack of resources to support SEND students increasing mental health issues and behaviour problems also pose ongoing issues for government. 8
- Figure 1 Total school spending per pupil relative to real terms levels in 2009-2010. 20
- Figure 2 Education capital spending in England over time 2023-24 prices. 21
- Figure 3 Postgraduate ITT recruitment and target numbers in England. 22
- Figure 4 Spending per student in 16-18 colleges and sixth forms. 23
- Figure 5 Long term changes in National Reference Test NRT English over time from 2017 baseline. 28
- Figure 6 Long term changes in National Reference Test NRT maths over time from 2017 baseline. 28
- Figure 7 TIMSS maths performance for Grade 4 10-year-olds in England. 30
- Figure 8 TIMSS maths performance for Grade 8 14-year-olds in England. 30
- Figure 9 TIMSS science performance for Grade 4 10-year-olds in England. 31
- Figure 10 TIMSS science performance for Grade 8 14-year-olds in England. 32
- Figure 11 PIRLS reading performance for grade 4 10-year-olds in England. 33
- Figure 12 PISA performance United Kingdom mathematics reading and science. 34
- Figure 13 GCSE performance by childrens eligibility for free school meals. 36
- Figure 14 The disadvantage gap at the end of primary school. 37
- Figure 15 The disadvantage gap in GCSE English and maths. 37
- Figure 16 The persistent disadvantage gap. 38
- Figure 17 Percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals over time. 39
- Figure 18 Levels of deprivation funding within local authority LA funding formulae over time 2023-24 prices. 40
- Figure 19 Share of pupils achieving good English and maths GCSEs by ethnicity. 41
- Figure 20 Percentage of state school pupils aged 18 who were accepted to higher education in the UK by ethnicity over time. 42
- Figure 21 The proportion of 1617-year-olds in education or apprenticeships. 45
- Figure 22 Highest level of qualification amoung the UK working-age population aged 22-64. 46
- Figure 23 Progression to higher education by POLAR Quintile. 47
- Figure 24 Pupils who are current smokers by year. 48
- Figure 25 Arrests of children for notable offences England and Wales Years ending March 2013 to 2023. 49
- Figure 26 Referrals to children and young peoples mental health services over time. 50
- Figure 27 Percentage of Year 11 pupils with a statementEHC plan by cohort and primary SEN type. 51
- Figure 28 Destitute households by number of children 2022 and 2019. 52
- 1201000 52
- 272000 52
- 179000 115000 52
- 835000 52
- 92000 70000 52
- 78000 52
- Figure 29 Rate of suspensions in schools over time. 54
- The Sutton Trust 9th Floor Millbank Tower 2124 Millbank London SW1P 4QP T 020 7802 1660 F 020 7802 1661 W www.suttontrust.com 57
