Below is the speech education secretary Bridget Phillipson delivered at an end of academic year event for the schools sector in Westminster:
Ladies and gentlemen, it is July!Ìý
Already one year on from the general election at which the British people put this government in power.
If you ever want to understand the true brevity of a year, form a government. While in opposition the years drag on, in government they go by in a flash.
You learn very quickly that a year really isn’t a lot of time when you’re doing something very important.Ìý
But I know how busy you’ve been this year. I’ve seen it for myself on the visits I’ve been on - and it’s great to see so many familiar faces here tonight.
In October, I visited Preston Park Family Wellbeing Centre to see the work they’re doing to reduce child poverty. In November I visited the Honor Oak Family Hub in Lewisham to see how the community was coming together on children’s social care.
In January, I went to Rushey Mead Academy and met Vicky. We spoke with her pupils about their experiences at school. In March, I went to Cardinal Heenan High School in Liverpool and met Karen and her pupils, who told me about their aspirations for the future.
The week after, I went to Bury college to talk about construction. In April, I went to Allenton Primary School in Derby to meet Jacqui and talk to parents about their experiences navigating the SEND system.
ln early May, I visited Nursery on the Green and met with Claire. We talked about the benefits of early education and the importance of private, voluntary and independent providers for delivering childcare entitlements.
And in mid-May, I went to Drayton Manor High School. I chatted with Lisa and her students about mental health and attendance.
Together we’ve achieved a lot in the last year.
We’ve launched our free breakfast club programme in 750 schools. Nearly 80,000 children from disadvantaged areas are now getting a great start to the day.
We’ve confirmed the first wave of 300 new or expanded school-based nurseries. 6,000 new places for children, right where they’re needed, building on the brilliant provision across the sector. Ìý
We’ve launched the biggest reform of children’s social care in a generation.
We’ve revealed plans to roll out Best Start Family Hubs across the country. We’ve announced foundation apprenticeships as part of our Youth Guarantee. We’ve unveiled plans to introduce Technical Excellence Colleges.
And there are now 2,300 more teachers in secondary and special schools this year than last. A third of the way to our target of 6,500.Ìý
Working together, we have begun to put education back at the centre of national life.
But I know when I stop speaking, you’ll all want to come and tell me what more needs to change. Please do. But first let me try and pre-empt some of that.Ìý
Because now that we’ve fixed the foundations, it’s time to move forward.
We’ve been fast out the blocks for year two. Starting this week, and pushing on over the next few months, we’re setting out our reforms in four key areas, covering the system from start to finish. And these will be bound together by common principles.
One will be rebuilding relationships - between us as government, you as professionals, and parents, too.Ìý
That includes renewing trust, particularly with the families who have lost faith, but being clear on our high expectations for each other too. ÌýAnd empowering you, the key agents of change.Ìý
Another principle will be recovering the value of education for the groups of children and young people for whom - for whatever reason - the system just isn’t working. Ìý
The groups whose attainment is too often far below what we all know it could and should be. White working-class children, children from disadvantaged backgrounds, Children with SEND.Ìý
That means engaging them as never before - proving that whatever we do, we do for them. It’s about being aspirational for every child and every community. And, crucially, delivering on that aspiration by spreading excellence to every corner of the system. High expectations, driven through core, non-negotiable standards in the fundamentals. From early years through to adult education, aspiration for all, built on excellence for all.
One final principle that I want to mention tonight, one that’s deeply connected to the others: we won’t shy away from what’s difficult and long term in favour of what’s quick and easy.Ìý
And I mean that in many ways. The complex policy reform, where there are no simple solutions. On SEND especially.Ìý
And in the ways in which we prepare our children and young people for work and life. The ways in which we guide them through and between each stage of education.
Building long term skills and capabilities. Resilience, compassion and independence, as well as English, maths and science.
Supporting and challenging in equal measure. Even when it’s hard, especially when it’s hard. Because true change is hard. If you don’t understand that after a year in government, you never will!
But together, the foundations we have laid this year, the work we will drive next year, the strategies that will guide us through the future,
it’s all in the hope of building a system capable of setting children free from the constraints that so unfairly hold them back, capable of delivering excellence in the places where context too often compounds disadvantage.
To achieve that ultimate goal: to break the link between background and success. I know that’s a hope for our children you all share.
You want to see, just as much as I do, a country where our children are no longer so needlessly held back.
By where they are born, by the nature of their needs, by the depth of their parents’ pockets. That’s the goal towards which we are all building.
And that goes across government. That’s why at a time of tough choices and competing demands - the Chancellor backed the next generation.
I’m deeply proud that the 2025 Spending Review confirmed that this government will spend more per pupil on schools than at any other time in this country’s history.
And Rachel provided financial muscle for our work on nurseries, colleges and universities, too.
But we all know that big challenges remain. There were difficult decisions in year 1, and there will be difficult decisions in year 2.Ìý
So we need to keep working together through those tough times.
On another warm July evening, almost one year ago, here in this same place, I spoke to people across the whole education sector. Many of you here tonight were with us then, too.Ìý
I asked you to partner with us. And tonight, I want to thank you for answering my call. I want to thank you for your advice and your guidance over the course of the last year.Ìý
For telling us when you think we’re getting it right. For telling us when you think we’re getting it wrong [you’re particularly good at that…].
Thank you for working with us while we bring in the change this country needs.
But I checked with my team, I went back through the transcript of my speech, and I didn’t say it would be a quick and easy job. One year to reach the sunlit uplands. No, I said it would be a long journey.
So you’re not off the hook yet. To keep delivering better life chances for children and young people we need to keep working together. In that same spirit of openness, honesty, and respect. So let me end here with some final thank yous.Ìý
Thank you to my ministerial team for all your fantastic work.
Thank you to my officials in the department for your dedication.
And thank you to all of you - the leaders, the teachers, the support staff, the directors, the analysts, the early years workforce, the social workers, the professors, the advisors, and everyone here tonight.Ìý
Thank you for all you do, every day.
It often isn’t glamorous, it rarely gets the recognition it deserves, but believe me, it always makes a difference - to the lives of children, young people and adults, up and down the country.Ìý
So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you - and I hope you have a great evening.
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