The King’s Speech | Implications for Education & Skills
In the first King’s Speech under the new Labour government, His Majesty King Charles III has outlined significant changes to the UK’s education landscape, with a focus on education and post-pandemic employment initiatives.
As Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration took center stage, the monarch presented Labour’s legislative agenda, introducing changes that align with the party’s educational vision.
Focus on Education and Post-Pandemic Employment
His Majesty King Charles III has focused on education and post-pandemic employment initiatives.
Reforms to the Apprenticeship Levy
Additionally, reforms to the apprenticeship levy, a tax imposed on employers, are set to be implemented. These changes aim to make the system more flexible and responsive to employers’ needs.
Establishment of Skills England
A new entity, Skills England, will be established to foster collaboration between government, businesses, labour unions, and training providers. The King describes it as a “partnership with employers at its heart,” suggesting a focus on aligning skills training with industry demands.
Artificial Intelligence
The King stated that the government “will seek to establish the appropriate legislation to place requirements on those working to develop the most powerful artificial intelligence models.” This indicates a focus on regulating and potentially safeguarding the development of advanced AI technologies.
New Legislation to Enhance Educational Standards and Student Welfare
He announces plans for legislation aimed at enhancing educational standards and promoting student welfare. This could include measures to improve curriculum content, teaching quality, and support services for students.
Funding for 6,500 New Teachers
According to the King, they will fund the recruitment of 6,500 new teachers.
Elimination of VAT Exemption on Private School Fees
The government intends to introduce measures to eliminate the VAT exemption on private school fees.
Sector Response
Responding to the education measures outlined in the King’s Speech, Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:
“We welcome many of the measures outlined by the new government and we look forward to working with ministers and officials on the detail of these proposals. At the heart of these policies, there is clearly a burning desire to tackle inequities and improve the life chances of vulnerable and disadvantaged children. We fully support that direction of travel – it is long overdue. However, there is a vital missing ingredient to these plans as they currently stand and that is the question of ensuring that schools and colleges are sufficiently funded not only to deal with the current huge financial pressures they are facing but in order to be sustainable in the future. We recognise that national finances are tight, but this nettle simply must be grasped when the government sets out its spending plans in the autumn.
Children not-in-school registers
“A mandatory register of children who are not in school is badly needed and long overdue. Local authorities must be able to keep a track of children to ensure they are not at risk and that they are receiving an appropriate standard of education. At the moment, the system is patchy and there are children who fall through the gaps.
Breakfast clubs in every primary school
“Ensuring that children are able to start the day with a good breakfast is of obvious benefit to their wellbeing and will mean they are ready to learn. It is vitally important that this provision is properly funded and resourced.
Limit on number of branded items of uniform
“A legal cap on the number of branded items of school uniform was expected and something that most schools recognise already, particularly given the high rate of child poverty and cost-of-living pressures.
Requiring all schools to teach the national curriculum
“This measure is linked to Labour’s planned curriculum and assessment review. It will clearly need careful handling not only to ensure that the resulting curriculum is right for pupils but that schools and teachers have sufficient time to adapt to any changes.
Bringing multi-academy trusts into the inspection system
“While the principle is sensible, delivering this policy does require careful thought. It will need the creation of an appropriate framework and assurance that Ofsted has inspectors with the experience and expertise to inspect MATs.
Levying VAT on independent schools
“Independent schools fear this policy will have a serious impact on staff and students with some schools likely to face closure. The policy does need to be fully modelled and consulted upon to understand the implications. It will not in itself address the funding crisis facing schools and colleges. That requires a general uplift in funding rates.”
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:
“This King’s Speech begins the process of repairing and rebuilding Britain after 14 years of chaos and decline. “Whether its boosting workers’ rights, launching GB Energy or bringing our railways back into public ownership – this is a serious statement of intent.
“Working people need – and want – a government that will deliver meaningful change and be on their side.
Commenting on the government’s commitment to deliver an employment bill within its first 100 days – and wider government commitments to deliver a genuine living wage and remove the discriminatory minimum wage age bands – Paul added:
“The Employment Bill will be a vital stepping stone towards making work pay and ensuring everyone has security and respect at work.
“It will help create a level-playing field and ensure good employers are not undercut by the bad.
“Improving the quality of work is hugely popular with voters across the political spectrum and can be at the heart of Labour’s plan to raise living standards.
“Delivering the New Deal in full will improve the working lives of millions and help turn the page on an era of low pay, low rights and low productivity.
Commenting on the Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, Paul added:
“Labour is right to act to tackle race and disability pay gaps and pay discrimination at work head on.
“Everyone in this country deserves the chance to thrive. But we know that BME and disabled people still face huge discrimination at work and in wider society.
“And we know that BME and disabled people are disproportionately more likely to be trapped in low-paid and insecure work.”
Commenting on rail services being brought back into public ownership and additional investment in high-speed rail across the North of England, Paul added:
“Rail privatisation has been a disaster for passengers and taxpayers alike. “Train companies have prioritised shareholder returns over providing quality services.
“The government is right to bring our railways back where they belong – in public ownership.
“And the today’s announcement of additional investment for the North is a welcome boost for growth and connectivity in the region.”
Commenting on the Skills England Bill, Paul added:
“The UK has been crying out for a proper skills strategy for years. “With AI, automation and climate change transforming the world of work, we must ensure people have the skills they need to do the jobs our economy needs.
“This is a serious plan that will bring unions, employers, providers and government together to end the skills deficit in this country.”
NCUB Dr Joe Marshall, Chief Executive of the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB), said:
“We warmly welcome the news, revealed in the King’s Speech, that the Government will introduce Skills England, which will bring together business and training providers. We particularly celebrate that partnerships with employers will be at the heart of this new body.”
Marshall continued:
“We also welcome the news that the Government is taking the bold step to reform the Apprenticeship Levy. As always, the devil will lie in the detail, but the aim to have a more flexible Levy than in the past is very welcome. The nation’s businesses are dealing with an acute and severe skills crisis. Skills gaps and vacancies have been persistently high at around 1 million, yet businesses face barriers to upskilling their staff and accessing new talent. We have long argued that it is vital companies are able to make full use of their Apprenticeship Levy funds for broader use, to increase the skills of their workforce. The Government is delivering on their promise of ‘change’ here. We hope that a more flexible Levy will meet business needs by expanding the variety of high-quality training available to young people and adults, and look forward to contributing to its design.”
Nichola Hay MBE, Director of Apprenticeship Strategy and Policy at BPP, said:
“It’s positive to see skills policy central to the Government’s plans for growth, with the announcement of a new ‘skills bill’ to replace the apprenticeship levy.
“There’s no denying the apprenticeship levy has been a success over the years. But it lacked some of the flexibility employers and learners needed to truly deliver for businesses.
“The launch of the new Growth and Skills Levy will hopefully provide that, but the Government must ensure it consults with employers and training providers to make sure the levy supports the workforce needs and provides opportunities for learners of all ages and skill level.
“To achieve that, it’s important that flexibility within the levy is prioritised, by taking time to review modularisation, content and duration of the apprenticeship.”
Kirstie Donnelly, Chief Executive at City & Guilds Said:
“City & Guilds warmly welcomes the inclusion of a ‘Skills England Bill’ in the King’s Speech, marking a pivotal moment for vocational education in the UK. The establishment of Skills England has the potential to join national policy with local reality and help coordinate the offer available for learners up and down the country. Done well, this could be a significant step in addressing the pressing skills and equity gaps the country faces. At City & Guilds we look forward to contributing our insight to help ensure Skills England is best placed to support learners and employers across the UK. It is also of central importance that the more immediate decisions around existing qualifications are also made. We believe it’s vital that we halt the planned qualification reform at the end of this month, something that would be damaging to UK productivity and would cull opportunities for people to progress and develop. In addition, a wider conversation is needed on the design and delivery of T – Levels to ensure they are impactful and sustainable in the long term. We also eagerly await more details on how the Growth and Skills Levy can maintain strong support for apprenticeships, while introducing flexibility for other in-work training. Striking the right balance is key to ensuring young apprentices and SMEs are not disadvantaged and will be important as we look to meet the demands of longer careers and a culture of lifelong learning. These reforms can have a real impact to better serve both learners and employers. City & Guilds is committed to partnering with the government to shape and drive the policies announced today, leveraging our expertise to create a dynamic skills system that promotes lifelong learning and inclusive growth across the country.”
Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive, said:
“Today’s King’s Speech sets out an ambitious programme for the new government. Businesses share the view that getting economic growth going should be our priority – and are ready to help. We welcome the commitment to a new partnership with business. Only growth can deliver the individual prosperity and funding for public services we all need.
“We have to be clear – businesses are worried that the government will rush reforms to the labour market and do more harm to workers than good. Our focus should be on improving the daily lives of workers while helping firms grow, not ticking things off a list quickly. From the National Minimum Wage to Pensions Automatic Enrolment, Labour governments have shown that big changes can be successfully delivered when a proper partnership with business is created. Think-tank and trade union discussions are important – but not a substitute for proper engagement and discussion with the private sector on employment relations. Businesses are not opposed to the government’s plans – but the failure of the Apprenticeship Levy shows what happens when government imposes solutions that don’t work in reality. We welcome today’s commitment to reforming the levy, which is long overdue.
“Flexibility matters to millions of workers across the UK. Changes that restrict choice and opportunity for workers must be avoided as they will undermine both the fight against inactivity and the quest for growth. A collaborative approach with business on these policies can ensure changes are grounded in people’s daily lives, so they are pro-worker and pro-business.”
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the school leaders’ union NAHT said:
“The measures set out in the Children’s Wellbeing Bill are largely sensible and welcome. After several aborted attempts at education bills over the last decade, it is good to see the government is not just starting to restore education as a national priority, but also focusing on a number of very practical, specific policies – many of which we have long called for.
“We have been clear about the need for a register of children not in school, which is vital to help services including schools ensure pupils stay safe and are not lost outside the system meaning they miss out on the education they need. Teachers and leaders will be relieved that a government is finally taking action on this.
“The legislation to ensure any new teacher has or is working towards qualified teaching status will put an end to the degradation of the profession that happened under the last administration and helps signal a clear reset of the government’s relationship with the profession.
“Greater consistency between academies and maintained schools is also long overdue, and it makes sense that all schools are expected to teach the national curriculum. We welcome the move to inspect multi-academy trusts, particularly given the increasingly prominent role they now play within the system. Of course, all inspections should be fair, proportionate and humane and we look forward to working with the government as they develop this policy.
“We stand ready to open dialogue with the new government to understand how the new requirement for all schools to provide breakfast clubs will work in practice. It is important the government understands that there are many different ways to ensure children who need it can access before-school provision, including local partnerships and the utilisation of existing childcare providers. It goes without saying that such provision will need to be adequately funded, with a particular focus on staffing costs.”
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said:
“While we welcome the shift in tone and commitment to improving the lives of working people, the devil will be in the detail and Labour must ensure it uses its mandate to make real change after years of Tory misrule. The government must now take the opportunity to boldly transform the world of work. The commitment to phasing out zero-hour contracts is welcome, and the thousands of staff members working in post-16 education on precarious contracts will want to see this enacted as quickly as possible.
On skills and industrial strategy plans, Jo said:
“The government needs to make sure workers are at the heart of Skills England, the Industrial Strategy Council, and reforms to the apprenticeship levy. The college teachers entrusted to deliver these plans earn £9k less than their counterparts in schools. Reskilling England cannot be done on the cheap, and these crucial workers need a pay rise. Now is the time to reset these relationships to one of collaboration rather than one where initiatives are foisted onto education staff at the whim of government.”
Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Executive, said:
“The King’s Speech sets out a programme of big choices and bold moves needed to deliver a shift in gear for the economy.
“Reforming planning systems, speeding up approvals for major infrastructure projects, harnessing the potential of data and promoting a more joined-up approach between local and national government can give businesses the confidence they need to unlock investment.
“With firms continuing to highlight access to labour and skills as a barrier to growth, addressing long-term inactivity and expanding the Apprenticeship Levy to offer a wider range of skills training can provide vital momentum to the economy.
“But the key to turning the government’s legislative agenda into a roadmap for sustainable growth will be a partnership of collaboration with industry.
“While delivering secure, well-paid jobs is a shared objective for business and the government, space for meaningful consultation with industry on the details will be key to avoiding unintended consequences.
“With the economy beginning to pick up steam, what’s needed now is a relentless focus on delivery by deploying the capability and capacity of industry to turn these measures into swift and bold action.”
Ben Harrison, Director of the Work Foundation at Lancaster University:
“The measures contained in the new Government’s first King’s Speech have the potential to significantly improve the working lives of people across the UK, and improve their chances of accessing more secure and well-paid jobs.
Ending an era of one-sided flexibility
“The commitment to introduce legislation to outlaw exploitative working practices – such as zero-hour contracts – may not be surprising, but it is crucial given 6.8 million people in the UK today find themselves in severely insecure work. Insecure jobs carry an average £3,276 per year pay penalty compared to more secure roles, and can be detrimental to worker’s health. As part of these reforms Government should introduce a right for all workers to access guaranteed hours in their role, and end the era of ‘one sided flexibility’ for millions at work.
Tackling ill-health
“But improving the security of jobs on offer will mean little if more isn’t also done to improve people’s chances of accessing them. Economic inactivity due to ill health remains at a 2.83 million people, so more action to help people stay in and return to employment is critical. In particular commitments to reduce NHS waiting lists and improve access to mental health services will be key.
Improving infrastructure to increase access to good jobs
“It’s also very welcome to see commitments to improve poor quality infrastructure that currently mean too many people – especially women and people managing disabilities or long-term health conditions – end up trading security at work for the flexibility they need. The promise of new legislation to improve local bus services that can better connect people to employment opportunities, a renewed focus on regional industrial strategies, and the establishment of Skills England all have the potential to support more people into better paid, more secure work in the future.
A new Single Enforcement Body
“It is welcome to see a commitment to legislate for a Single Enforcement Body – to be known as the Fair Work Agency – to ensure that new labour market regulations are adhered to by all employers. In 2018, on average an employer was likely to be inspected by HMRC’s Minimum Wage Team just once every 500 years. Ensuring the Fair Work Agency is resourced properly and is a visible deterrent to rogue employers will be vital if we are to see the ambition of Labour’s New Deal for working people become a reality.
“The challenge now for the new Government will be ensuring the ambition of this King’s Speech is realised as draft Bill’s make their journey into legislation, so that workers across the UK can benefit from the proposed reforms.”
Julian Gravatt, Deputy Chief Executive, Association of Colleges, said:
“We welcome the announcement of apprenticeship levy reform in the King’s Speech today. At AoC, we have been calling for reform for some time, to ensure the apprenticeship programme works for young people, key sectors and for employers.
“We are pleased to also see the announcement of Skills England. We have been campaigning for a new social partnership body for some time and have set out a clear blueprint for how we believe it should operate in practice.
“Colleges have a central role to play across all the new government’s missions on which new bills have been announced today; they support growth within their local communities, develop green skills for the economy, play a key role in the NHS workforce pipeline, and encourage students to adopt healthy and safe lifestyle habits.
“AoC is looking forward to working with the government to ensure that any reform and new initiatives are in the best interests of students, colleges and communities, while also continuing to lobby for better FE pay, a rethink on GCSE resits and curriculum more widely, and a pause and review of qualification reform.”
Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said:
“Today’s King’s Speech sets out a raft of measures that have the potential to deliver real change for workers and better opportunities for children and young people.
“It is welcome that the new Government has committed to taking forward many new measures to address concerns highlighted by the NASUWT for some time.
“We have long called for government to turn the page on restricting children’s access to a broad and balanced education on the basis of parents’ ability to pay.
“Restoring the national educational entitlements of all children and young people, including the fundamental right to a national curriculum that is taught by qualified teachers, will be of critical importance to securing equality of opportunity for every learner, regardless of where they are educated.
“Securing entitlements for pupils must go hand in hand with securing the entitlements of teachers and support staff to world-class employment conditions in every state-funded school. We look forward also to working with Ministers to deliver their vision for improving workers’ rights and securing equality for teachers in our schools and colleges.
“The new Government’s programme provides an opportunity to reset our education system and take a significant step forward in addressing the inequality, fragmentation, chaos and damage inflicted on the education system over the last 14 years, and restore the status of the teaching profession.
“We will now be looking to the new Government to work with us in taking forward these and other measures in the interests of children and young people and the workforce in our schools and colleges.”
Sir Peter Lampl, Founder of the Sutton Trust and Founder of the Education Endowment Foundation, said:
“It’s encouraging to see the Government press ahead in breaking down barriers to opportunity in education, as well as seeking to raise educational standards and promote children’s wellbeing. To build on this, it’s vital that the Government takes action to tackle the rising attainment gap between disadvantaged youngsters and their peers.
“It’s also time that the apprenticeship levy was reformed. However, the proposed changes risk reducing new apprenticeship opportunities if employers use levy funding for their existing staff’s learning and development. These reforms must be accompanied by a plan to significantly increase apprenticeships targeted at young people from less well-off backgrounds.
“To deliver sustained economic growth, one of the things the Government must do is advance social mobility to significantly increase opportunity for future generations. This will require substantial policy action and investment from the early years to the workplace, including equalising access to early education and childcare, closing the attainment gap in schools, and increasing financial support for students.”
Dr Marc Warner, CEO, Faculty AI Said:
“Whilst tighter rules around frontier systems is sensible, Labour must guard against regulatory overreach.
“AI has been safely and successfully used for decades – from predicting travel times, spotting bank fraud, or reading patient scans.
“Embracing these “narrow” applications – AI tools with specific, predetermined goals set by humans – should be the priority. Cracking down here would only stifle growth and hamper innovation – as well as robbing the public of better, faster and cheaper public services.
“Starmer should release the handbrake on narrow AI, whilst implementing sensible rules around advanced, more general systems. This Bill looks to be a good start on that journey.”
Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said:
“It is encouraging to see the focus on both the standard of education in the UK as well as how we break down barriers to accessing world class skills.
High quality technical and employability skills are key to successful industrial strategies. They give young people a strong start in life, provide employers with top talent, and boost the UK’s economic competitiveness.
At the heart of this opportunity are our teachers and trainers; by using our access to international best practice through events like WorldSkills Lyon, we can support their ongoing development, providing young people with the world class skills employers need to stay competitive. By supporting Skills England to bring together education and industry, we are committed to helping the UK become a world-class skills economy.”
Ben Willmott, head of public policy for the CIPD, said:
“Working in close partnership with employers and business bodies will be key to the Government achieving its aims of boosting skills, employment and unlocking the UK’s economic potential.”
On changes to employment rights:
“We welcome the Government’s intention to work in partnership with business as it implements its New Deal for Working People. Plans to introduce day one employment rights and other employment law changes will need thorough consultation with employers, and potentially compromise in places, to ensure any changes have a positive impact on workplace practices and employment opportunities.
“It’s crucial that changes to employment legislation don’t discourage employers from taking on permanent staff or providing flexible employment opportunities that can benefit people who need to fit work around care, study or health needs for example.”
On skills:
“We welcome reform of the Apprenticeship Levy into a more flexible Growth and Skills Levy. The CIPD have been calling for change in this area, on behalf of our members and businesses, for several years to help reverse the decline in apprenticeships for young people and make it easier for employers to use their levy funds to upskill their existing workforce.
“The establishment of Skills England can provide a further boost to business skills investment, bringing together the key players needed to ensure that reform of the levy is a success, and training and development is more aligned with business and learner needs.”
On the introduction of an Industrial Strategy Council:
“The commitment to establishing an Industrial Strategy Council will prove crucial in supporting economic growth. However, it’s essential that industrial strategy looks at the whole of the economy and isn’t just focused on boosting R&D, high tech and green energy sectors, crucial as they are.
“It must also consider the everyday economy, powered by sectors like retail, hospitality, transport, logistics and social care. Improving skills, people management practices and technology adoption in these sectors will be key to raising productivity across the economy.”
English Devolution Bill:
“There are some real opportunities in devolving greater powers over skills and employment support and joining these things up at a local level. But it’s important that employer voices are brought in at a national and local level in a way that ensures support is joined up.”
On helping more people get back into work after the pandemic:
“Long-term health issues have a significant impact on people’s ability to work so it’s vital that the Government takes steps to help people get into and stay in work where they are able. Health policy is economic policy, they can’t be treated in silos. It’s crucial that the Government works with employers to prioritise employee health and wellbeing if we’re to tackle the dual challenge of a tight labour market and an ageing workforce with more complex health needs.”
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