Education and young people
Children often start school as eager learners. By the end of their school lives, too many have no or few positive outcomes from school, and no desire to continue any formal education. Some have been excluded or have simply stopped attending.
In schools, we believe much smaller class sizes are the key to behaviour and learning. Classrooms should be places for the children to explore and discover new things, which is easier to achieve with smaller numbers of children in classrooms. Those who do well in school tests come into a society that has a very narrow view of education as a collection of marketable certificates. This reflects the view of other parties that education is important only as a means to enable Britain to compete in the global economy.
The Green Party wants a state funded education system which:
- Provides essential numeracy and literacy skills
- Promotes a sense of responsibility, confidence and respect in all young people
- Caters for all specialisms and needs, inspiring a hunger for learning in all areas: academic and non-academic, therefore authorising young people to pursue what they are good at, rather than what is expected of them
- Promotes a sense of community, so that children are proud to attend their local school
- Promotes a healthy lifestyle through good diet and exercise
The National Curriculum is currently restricted in many areas, and we would not support it in its current form. Children are more empowered and better learners when given more choice and allowed to explore their individual needs and interests, which would be included in the curriculum.
To measure school performance we would abolish the system of SATs and league tables. They put unnecessary pressure on schools without leading to a better all-round education for the children. We would like to see a system of self-evaluation for schools, that is monitored by the local education authority.
The Green Party's position on grammar and public schools means that we would remove the charitable status of all such schools and offer state funding to them so they will be accessible to all children in the local area.
All children, even those with disabilities and special educational needs, will be given the opportunity to attend their local school, which will provide diverse support for people with special needs. In special cases and in accordance with the child's wishes, there may be a need for segregation, which will be provided as a unit within the school.
Our position on faith in schools means that education should include a celebration and recognition of religious diversity and spirituality. It is for this reason that all schools, both state controlled and privately run will be required to embrace a multi-faith perspective throughout the delivery of the curriculum.
The Green Party opposes City Academies and Trust Schools as we believe that schools should be governed in the interests of children and their parents, not through private indviduals or businesses.
We would recruit and retain more teachers by allowing them greater freedom and, to remove one of the main reasons teachers leave teaching, ensure their paperwork is greatly reduced.
Our position on tuition fees and student loans means that under Green Party policy, students will not have to pay tuition fees. The Green Party supports grants not loans, providing a basic income sufficient for needs while in full time education.
