Zack Polanski, the Green party leader, has told the National Education Union (NEU) conference that his party would abolish Ofsted, describing it as a 'toxic, failed institution' that harms teachers and children. He called for a move towards a 'genuinely collaborative model' of school inspection, involving local experts in pedagogy, child development and social care.
Polanski also criticised the academies programme, saying it was a 'failed model' driven by an ideological drive to marketise education. He argued that academisation has led to a fragmented system with poor accountability, where CEOs receive high salaries while staff pay and conditions worsen. He cited research showing no positive impact on attainment in multi-academy trusts, and worse results in larger secondary trusts.
The Green leader accused the Labour government of entrenching Tory failings, particularly through its schools white paper which would force every school to join a multi-academy trust. He said this weakens accountability to local authorities, parents and communities.
Polanski pledged a 'serious cash injection' for education, noting that UK investment of 4.1% of GDP is below the OECD average of nearly 5%. He said the Greens would fund this by taxing extreme wealth, pointing out that the average UK billionaire's wealth grew by over £230m last year.
The speech, the first by a Green leader to the NEU, received a standing ovation from members. Polanski said education had been 'pushed to the brink by the toxic twin pressures of ideologically-driven reorganisation and an unforgivable squeeze in budgets'.
