I welcome the government consultation that was launched last week, seeking views on the design of the Advanced British Standard.  This new baccalaureate-style qualification is part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s pledge to provide every child with a world-class education, helping to ensure all young people have the skills they need to have good jobs and careers, that ultimately will grow and strengthen our economy.

This will build on the success the government has made since 2010 to drive up standards in schools.  The 2022 global PISA study showed that pupils in England have risen up the international rankings for maths, placing as one of the top performing countries in the western world.  This is very encouraging, but we cannot rest on our laurels and must keep striving for the best possible education for our children.  This is especially pertinent for Crawley where for decades, educational attainment has not been as high as we’d like.

At the heart of the proposals for the Advanced British Standard are an increase in teaching time of around 200 hours over the course of the qualification, greater breadth and choice for young people and a core focus on vital maths and English.  This will mean most students choose a minimum of five subjects from a menu of options to provide more breadth and flexibility.  These subjects will be built on A levels and T Levels, while retaining their rigour and focusing on building knowledge.  By increasing teaching time and the breadth of what students can study, including maths and English, the Advanced British Standard will widen students’ career options and bring England into line with other major economies such as France, Germany, Japan and the USA.

Also reflected locally, 89% of schools are now rated good or outstanding by Ofsted, compared to only 68% when Labour left office in 2010.  Last week’s confirmation was very welcome, that we have risen up the international league tables for education, with England now among the highest performing western nations.

Thank you for reading and I wish you a very happy, peaceful and relaxing Christmas.  

 

Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group

20th December 2023