It’s official: The launch of the 2024 Manifesto for North East Education
Last night will go down in history. Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has officially won the election, and the Conservatives endured the worst defeat in the party’s history.
However, regardless of the party in charge, we’re going to continue amplifying the voices of our schools and lobbying policymakers to prioritise the North East’s amazing education community.
Have you seen the 2024 Manifesto for North East Education?
On Tuesday 2 July, we launched our refreshed manifesto containing key recommendations from North East schools for all political parties and policymakers.
Whether you’re celebrating the results of the 2024 general election, or drowning your sorrows, we can’t deny that this is a fresh chance for policymakers to finally address the long-term structural issues affecting attainment and outcomes in the North East – and that’s a positive thing.
If we don’t act now, the disadvantage gap in educational attainment could become a disadvantage chasm. The progress made in closing this gap over the last decade had already stalled by 2019 and reversed during the pandemic. Could today mark the beginning of positive change?
Our refreshed 2024 manifesto, like our 2019 manifesto, shines a light on the significant issues our schools face and the dedicated, hardworking teachers dealing with decades-old social and economic challenges.
Read the full 2024 Manifesto for Education here.
What could this result mean for the education sector?
Labour scored a huge victory in the general election. In the North East, Keir Starmer’s party managed to win over Hexham for the first time since 1924, and they also secured North Northumberland and all three Newcastle seats.
Teesside saw some big results too, with Darlington, Redcar, and Hartlepool all returning to Labour hands. Now, there’s only one Conservative seat left in the entire North East and Tees Valley region, which is Stockton West. What a turnaround.
In their manifesto, Labour insisted they’ll transform the education system so that young people get the opportunities they deserve, which is exactly what we need – and deserve – here in the North East. Not just for our students, but for our school staff, too.
To address the recruitment and retention crisis, they promise to recruit 6,500 new expert teachers in key subjects, and 3,000 new primary school-based nurseries. Plus, the way bursaries are allocated (and the structure of retention payments) will be reviewed, and we’re to expect free breakfast clubs in every primary school.
Labour will launch an expert-led review of curriculum and assessment, working with school staff, parents and employers to deliver a new all-singing, all-dancing curriculum that will get our young people truly ready for work and life.
Additionally, Labour say they will end the VAT exemption and business rates relief for private schools to invest in our state schools.
Read the full Labour manifesto here.
You will always have the support of Schools North East
Today is a huge day for the nation, and whatever your political opinion, we want to reassure you all that Schools North East remains as committed as ever to advocating for you.
We know better than anyone that the challenges you face are significant – from securing essential resources to addressing the ever-evolving needs of your students – and we will continue to stand at the forefront of efforts to ensure that the government listens and acts on the issues that matter most to you.
We sincerely hope, from the bottom of our hearts, that this change in government signifies a (positive!) change to the sector, but only time will tell. Either way, you know you have the unwavering support of Schools North East.
Together, we’ll keep pressing for progress and striving for a better future for all our region’s remarkable schools and students.
Join us at the Summit 2024
