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What are ‘high and rising standards’ and how do we achieve them?

Accountability Government policy
‘High and rising standards!’ At every occasion, government ministers trot out this latest slogan for education – but as ever they are less clear about what this actually means, says Pepe Di’Iasio
High and rising standards: Nobody can argue against this ambition but what does it actually mean and how are we going to achieve this? - Adobe Stock

The latest political slogan to enter the education lexicon is “high and rising standards”.

In the tiresome way of these things, you will see this phrase pop up in press releases, speeches and sundry other government communications with monotonous regularity.

Nobody would argue against this ambition, of course, but what does it actually mean – and how are we going to achieve this?

Let’s start with what high and rising standards might look like. They could be an improvement in test and exam results at key stages 2, 4, and 5; a narrowing of the disadvantage gap in outcomes; more schools achieving positive Ofsted ratings; improved rankings in international PISA tests; and/or fewer young people who are classified as not in education, employment or training (NEET).

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