The schools White Paper, The Importance of Teaching, sets out a radical reform programme for the schools system, with schools freed from the constraints of central Government direction and teachers placed firmly at the heart of school improvement.
Drawing heavily on evidence from the world’s best education systems, it outlines how we will raise the prestige of the teaching profession, and how we will transform the quality of initial training and continuing professional development. And it commits Government to cutting away unnecessary duties, processes, guidance and requirements.
The White Paper also sets out:
- powers for teachers to improve discipline, and trialling a new approach to exclusions
- a vision for a transformed school curriculum supported by rigorous assessment and qualifications
- more academies and free schools and a strong strategic role for local authorities
- changes to school performance tables, Ofsted inspections and governance
- a fairer funding system including a pupil premium to channel more money to the most deprived children
- school-led school improvement replacing top-down initiatives.
