Introduction

In this chapter, the focus moves to the areas that need to change: a summary of particularly important characteristics (and weaknesses) of the English Education ‘system’. For the sort of changes being suggested, this would involve elements of redefining and redirecting. But it would not be in the spirit of the book to present a new detailed schema because, in any democracy, this needs to develop from wider discussion, consideration and action and start with the way things are, as does all sustainable policy.

If Education is to be more open and be re-politicised, what emerges needs to be open and authoritative, not based on newly imagined structures of tired centralised governance systems, however recently elected the incumbents, or by diktat. There may be a need for changed structures, but I will argue for the locations and characteristics of structural change, not prescribe them. At the same time, I would strongly recommend whatever eventually emerges can still benefit now from changes in behaviour, within existing arrangements and structures. These will be rooted within a desire – perhaps later a requirement – to consider the publicly open and democratic possibilities in all pieces of work. For example. It could be asked: how can this programme or piece of work be conducted to encourage wider public understanding and involvement?

I have worked with and for many politicians that do not need to be taught anything here, and the same applies to many officers and some officials of my acquaintance. But redemocratising needs to be an underpinning of all governance work, not an afterthought, and be a required expectation of public life.

I shall argue in the last chapter of the book how some attempts can be made to encourage this sort of focus and suggest the addition of an additional principle of public life (from GOV.UK), the so-called Nolan principles. Public Education in England, that is, state funded, does need to move away from its current privatised state, in the sense that decisions are made now secretly and behind closed doors as routine, into the light of public service. This needs to be a defining principle and is repoliticisation in the sense it is open to public scrutiny, debate and differing views. What I do not mean is that this matter should become part of a restrictive political party debate.