Labour’s Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, is facing mounting pressure to justify her controversial Schools Bill, which critics warn could roll back years of hard-won progress in education.
And now, the country’s most formidable headmistress, Katharine Birbalsingh, has issued a clarion call to journalists: hold her feet to the fire!
Birbalsingh, the much-loved and straight-talking head of Michaela Community School, has written an open letter warning that Labour’s reforms could do “untold damage” to children—especially the most vulnerable. Yet, shockingly, the Bill is passing through Parliament largely unnoticed.
With Labour’s landslide majority granting it unchecked power, critics fear that Phillipson is pushing through draconian measures without proper scrutiny. And in true headmistress style, Birbalsingh has laid out some no-nonsense questions that Phillipson must answer before it’s too late.
Why Won’t You Speak to Successful Schools?
One of the most damning revelations? Phillipson didn’t visit a single high-achieving school last year that scored at least +1 on Progress 8. This crucial measure tracks how much pupils improve between primary and secondary school. There are dozens of such schools to choose from—so why ignore them?
Why didn’t she listen to their views before pushing through changes that threaten their success?
Even now, with the Bill racing through Parliament, how many of the top ten Progress 8 schools does she plan to visit before it’s too late?
Did You Even Consult School Leaders?
Birbalsingh also raises the alarming claim that Phillipson didn’t take any proper advice from school leaders before drafting this Bill. Apparently, the Education Secretary only bothered to meet with a group of them once school leaders started speaking out against it. By then, of course, the damage was already done.
So here’s a simple question: what amendments has she made to the Bill since those meetings? As of now, the only U-turn has been on teacher pay. Why hasn’t she reversed her other damaging proposals?
Why Are You Undermining School Discipline?
Behaviour is one of the biggest challenges in schools today. And yet, Labour’s Bill will make it harder for schools to enforce strict uniform policies—a vital tool for maintaining order in the classroom.
All of the top ten Progress 8 schools require more than three branded items of uniform. But Labour’s Bill will prevent schools from insisting on this standard. Why? If discipline and school culture matter, why deliberately weaken the tools that help maintain them?
Are You Forcing Bureaucracy on Schools—Again?
One of the most shocking revelations is that Labour’s Bill could force schools to seek permission for something as trivial as building a bike shed! Haven’t teachers got enough to do without drowning them in more red tape?
Even more worrying, the Bill will prevent successful schools from expanding, handing power to local authorities to limit the number of places at high-achieving institutions. What would Phillipson say to a desperate parent who wants their child to attend a top-performing school but is blocked from doing so thanks to Labour’s meddling?
Why Are You Making It Harder to Hire Brilliant Teachers?
Another glaring flaw in Labour’s plan? It will ban schools from hiring brilliant teachers who don’t have formal certification.
Take an economics teacher at Michaela School—an outstanding young man, educated at the London School of Economics. He is a fantastic teacher, but says he never would have gone into teaching if he had been forced to battle through the bureaucracy of certification.
Why is Labour obsessed with red tape when schools are crying out for passionate and talented educators? Can Phillipson even name a single example of an uncertified teacher who was a disaster in the classroom?
Why Are You Micromanaging the Curriculum?
Labour’s Bill will make it harder for schools to tailor the curriculum to meet students’ needs. Take the Harris Federation, which has turned around failing schools in some of London’s toughest areas. Their approach? Temporarily narrowing the curriculum to focus on literacy and numeracy so children who can’t read or write get the essential skills they need.
So why does Labour want to make it harder for struggling students to get the basics right? Why push this top-down, one-size-fits-all approach when successful schools are proving there’s a better way?
A Power Grab by the State?
At the heart of this Bill lurks a deeper question: why is Labour so obsessed with state control? Schools have spent years building a culture of excellence, with strong leadership and the freedom to make decisions that work for their pupils.
Why does Labour want to strip away these freedoms? Why is Phillipson forcing schools to comply with a national curriculum she hasn’t even published yet? Surely, if the new curriculum is so wonderful, it should be published before schools are forced to adopt it?
Phillipson Can’t Hide Forever
The Education Secretary has so far dodged these crucial questions. But she can’t run forever.
Birbalsingh’s challenge to journalists is clear: grill her. Record her answers. Demand accountability.
Britain’s children—especially the most vulnerable—deserve better than ideological meddling from Labour politicians who refuse to listen to the best schools in the country.
Time’s up, Bridget. Answer the questions.
The country’s most formidable headmistress, Katharine Birbalsingh, has issued a clarion call to journalists: hold her feet to the fire!
