Green Party leader Zack Polanski has declared that his party would abolish Ofsted, describing it as a "toxic, failed institution" that harms both teachers and children. Speaking at the National Education Union's annual conference in Brighton, Polanski outlined a vision to replace the current inspection system with a more collaborative model.
Critique of Ofsted and School Structures
Polanski argued that Ofsted has become detrimental to the education sector, stating, "Ofsted is a toxic, failed institution which is harming teachers and children – and it’s time to end it." He emphasised that recent government reforms merely tinker at the edges without addressing core issues. Instead, he proposed moving towards a system that connects frontline teachers with local experts in pedagogy, child development, and social care to better support pupil needs.
Opposition to Academies
The Green Party also stands firmly against the academisation of schools. Polanski criticised this model as a "failed" approach driven by ideological marketisation, which has led to a fragmented system with poor accountability. He highlighted concerns over academy CEOs receiving high salaries while staff pay and conditions deteriorate.
Referencing research, Polanski noted that academisation has shown no positive impact on pupil attainment and progress in multi-academy trusts compared to other schools. In fact, larger multi-academy trusts, particularly in secondary schools, have resulted in worse outcomes. This aligns with studies cited by the NEU, underscoring the party's evidence-based stance.
Criticism of Labour's Policies
Polanski took aim at the Labour government, accusing it of entrenching rather than fixing systemic failings. He pointed to the new schools white paper, which proposes forcing every school to join a multi-academy trust. According to Polanski, this move weakens accountability to local authorities, parents, and communities, perpetuating issues inherited from previous Tory administrations.
Call for Increased Education Funding
Beyond structural changes, Polanski stressed the need for a "serious cash injection" into education. He revealed that the UK invests only about 4.1% of GDP in education, below the OECD average of just under 5%. This places the country significantly behind top performers like Iceland (5.6%) and Norway (6.2%).
To fund higher educational spending, the Greens propose taxing extreme wealth. Polanski cited that "the average wealth of a billionaire in the UK grew by more than £230m last year," suggesting this as a viable revenue source to improve resources and support for schools.
Overall, Polanski's speech at the NEU conference positioned the Green Party as a vocal advocate for radical educational reform, focusing on abolishing Ofsted, halting academisation, and boosting funding through wealth taxation.
