At this year’s Labour Party Conference, the Education Policy Institute has partnered with Parentkind to hold a public panel on: ‘Sad at school: how to change our curriculum so children enjoy learning again’.
Research from Parentkind, a UK charity representing the voice of parents and Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), found that half of parents feel that the current curriculum and assessment system means children are less likely to enjoy school.
The National Parent Survey, Britain’s biggest parent poll, recently found that 1 in 5 teenagers don’t enjoy school according to their parents, while 1 in 3 children entitled to FSM feel unsafe at school. Education Policy Institute (EPI) research has also shown that wellbeing falls as children get older, with children moving into secondary school experiencing an average drop in happiness in all areas of life. This can have significant longer-term consequences as poor mental health in adolescence is strongly associated with poor mental health in adulthood. Conversely, Children who enjoy school have better attendance, behaviour and attainment.
This issue is increasingly important to parents, teachers and politicians. In their manifesto, Labour has committed to a curriculum and assessment review and providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every school.
This panel event will look at how parents, schools and policy makers can help children to enjoy school again, bringing together high-profile Labour politicians, experts and school leaders to consider why our children are disengaged with school and what can be done about it. Panellists will consider the role of curriculum and assessment in the rising rates of disengagement and mental health problems, the role of schools and wider services in tackling this and how Labour’s pledges can be implemented effectively to ensure all children can enjoy their time in school.
We are delighted to be joined by Lord Knight; Natasha Irons MP; Connie Dimsdale, The I Paper; Jason Elsom, Parentkind and Matthew Shanks, Education South West, with more speakers to be confirmed. James Zuccollo, EPI’s Director for School Workforce, will chair this panel.
** Note: This event will take place in the conference secure zone. To access the secure zone you will need to obtain a pass directly from the Labour Party.**
