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The biggest challenge in education? How long have you got?
Yes, the Tories are particularly bad, but we must ignore any politician that claims they can force improvements in our educational attainment by doing anything other than creating a more just and equal society for our kids, writes ROBERT POOLE

I RECENTLY had an interesting conversation with an executive from a large teacher training provider. One question I was asked was what the biggest challenge in education was. I think I answered by saying something along the lines of “how long have you got?” — but the question did make me stop and think.

Every different teacher would probably give you very different answers. For some it might be pupils’ behaviour, for others it would be Ofsted. For a small number it would probably be “the woke agenda” (whatever that is) and for more it would be mental health.

The obvious answer is of course the Tory government. But simply replacing the Tory government though would not solve all our problems unless it was replaced by a government committed to radical educational reform.

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