Raising standards by devolving power and accountability

The Report published last week, recommending how Labour should treat school structures and functions after our return to Government in 2015, aims to set a path towards picking up the pieces from Michael Gove’s tenure as Secretary of State for Education. The Report covers a wide range of issues facing our school system, and hence facing the prospects of our young people. At its heart, though, are two key propositions.

First, in future our schools system must not be subject to the incredible waste and mismanagement of the Gove years. Over £1 Billion has been overspent on Academies and Free Schools. The scandals revealed by what has happened at the Al-Madinah School, Discovery New School and King’s Science Academy are examples of what can happen when proper monitoring and oversight do not exist.

Second, in order to clear up this mess and in order to allow our schools to flourish, power and accountability must be devolved down away from the Department for Education, which is now directly responsible for overseeing thousands of schools. Instead, we need local communities to take charge of schools, with locally appointed and accountable Directors of Schools Services taking over many of the functions of the DfE, supported by a public duty for both local authorities and schools to enhance collaboration between schools, and between schools and other providers.

We do not want another major top-down overhaul of the system at a time when schools have faced more upheaval than they can cope with. Devolving control of the system should allow this to be achieved. However, more than this, devolution of power and accountability will help us to raise standards. Parents and local authorities will be able to work with the new Directors to challenge underperforming schools, in a way that is not currently possible.

More broadly, parents and local people will be able to determine how their schools pursue high standards. Instead of schools aiming to please Gove’s latest whim, so long as they are working towards excellence they will be free to develop an approach that works for them. Crucially, I believe this freedom will help enable schools to pursue aims like the development of active citizenship. Currently, this is not something schools are incentivised to do, and yet it is crucial to both the holistic raising of standards and making sure our young people are able to flourish as positive members of society.

IPPR’s 2013 Citizen Schools report, by Jamie Audsley, Jim O’Connell and their team, showcases examples of schools that have managed to become vibrant local institutions, where students become good citizens who see themselves as fully integrated and empowered members of their community and of our nation. I have always believed our young people, when given the chance, will naturally become good citizens willing and able to make a contribution to our society – whether that is through volunteering, campaigning, working to improve their area, or taking part in more formal politics.

The next Labour Government will inherit a fragmented schools system that lets down too many young people through waste and mismanagement. It is my hope that by returning control of schools to local people, we will allow schools to focus on what matters: ensuring all young people leave school with a bright future ahead of them as rounded, confident citizens.

David Blunkett is the Labour MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough and former Education Secretary