Education Recovery Commissioner For England Resigns Over Lack Of Funding

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The education recovery commissioner for England, Sir Kevan Collins, has resigned in a row over the lack of “credible” catch-up funding.

Sir Kevan took on the role as catch-up tsar in February to develop a long-term plan to help pupils make up for lost learning during the pandemic.

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But on Wednesday he stepped down saying the government’s funding for the plan “falls far short of what is needed”.

Head teachers described the £1.4bn cash over three years as unexciting and less effective than expected.

The Education Policy Institute had calculated that a catch-up funding recovery would need £13.5bn – and Sir Kevan was reported as having put forward plans costing £15bn.

The government’s proposal represents £50 per pupil per year – and Sir Kevan wrote to the prime minister saying: “I do not believe it is credible that a successful recovery can be achieved with a programme of support of this size.”

A Downing Street spokesman said the prime minister was hugely grateful to Sir Kevan for his work in helping pupils catch up and recover from the effects of the pandemic.

Downing Street said government will continue to focus on education recovery and making sure no child is left behind with their learning, with over £3bn committed for catch up so far.

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Earlier on Wednesday, the government announced an extra £1.4bn over three years for education recovery, in addition to the £1.7bn already announced.

This included £1bn for 100 million hours of tutoring, aimed at disadvantaged pupils, and £250m for teacher training and development.

The resignation letter from Sir Kevan Collins to the prime minister makes plain that this should not have come as a surprise.

Sir Kevan has had a long career in education, as a former teacher who went on to be the director of children’s services and chief executive of Tower Hamlets, east London.