Andy Burnham, Labour's Shadow Education Secretary, has made a decisive break with his party's past on education policy by championing comprehensive schools. In a speech that marked a significant shift in tone and emphasis, he used the term 'comprehensive' 15 times, compared to just one mention of 'academies'. This marks a clear departure from Labour's previous ambivalence towards comprehensive education.
Mr Burnham, whose own children attend state primary schools and are applying for a local Catholic comprehensive, spoke movingly about the benefits of an education system that brings together pupils from diverse backgrounds. He recalled his own experience at St Aelred's, a Catholic comprehensive in Merseyside, which faced challenges such as struggling academically and having inadequate facilities.
The Shadow Education Secretary launched a pointed critique of the previous Labour government, in which he served, for not celebrating the merits of comprehensive schools. He referenced a comment made by a former Downing Street spokesman that referred to 'bog-standard' comprehensives, suggesting it created a negative narrative that influenced policy decisions.
Mr Burnham argued that policy had been unduly shaped by the London context, overlooking the successes of comprehensive schools across the country. His speech was met with sustained applause from the audience, indicating a desire for a renewed focus on comprehensive education.
This bold stance puts Labour directly at odds with the Coalition Government's education policies, which have seen the expansion of academies and free schools. Mr Burnham views these as contributing to the fragmentation and segregation of the education system.