Wes Streeting – 2020 Comments on NAHT Report

The comments made by Wes Streeting, the Shadow Minister for Schools, on 18 November 2020.

Labour has consistently called for proper support for school leaders and a system of accountability that genuinely improves the learning experience for children and young people. We will only get the best out of our pupils if we get the best out of our teachers, support staff and school leaders which requires good quality training and professional development.

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, progress to close the gap between pupils from the most and least disadvantaged backgrounds was not only stalling under this Government, but slipping into reverse. The Government must urgently refocus its attention on tackling educational disadvantage to prevent an entire generation of children from being left behind.