Government reveals plans to improve education by 2030
Updated on: April 5, 2023
Government reveals plans to improve the expected standard for reading, writing and maths in recent Schools White Paper
At the end of March 2022, the UK Government released their Schools White Paper with plans to improve education in mainstream state-funded schools, with a focus on reading, writing, and maths.
The two main ambitions that the School White Paper aims to deliver by 2030, is for:
- 90% of primary school children to achieve the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, and the percentage of children meeting the expected standards in the worst performing areas to increase by a third.
- The national GCSE average grade in both English language and maths to increase from 4.5 in 2019 to 5 in secondary schools.
How this will be achieved
The recent School White Paper outlines the steps that will be taken to achieve these goals, such as increasing starting salaries to attract and retain the best teachers and delivering specialist training to drive better literacy.
As well as this, by September 2023, the minimum school week will increase to 32.5 hours (the current average) and will allow for maximised opportunities for effective education.
Better behaviour and higher attendance will be encouraged as the white paper states that a child who receives 20 minutes less of teaching time per day will lose out on around 2 weeks of schooling a year!
To improve attendance and behaviour, it’s advised that schools offer a calm, orderly, safe, and supportive environment where children are keen to learn and where teachers feel focused to deliver the best possible lessons.
Schools in a priority Education Investment Area will also receive part of a £40 million funding pot for specific improvements to the school and quality of teaching. Following this, every school will be inspected by Ofsted by 2025.
How playground markings can help
We have a range of playground markings for primary schools, perfect for supporting reading, writing, and maths. From themed phonics designs to colourful maths playground markings, there’s plenty to ensure a rich educational opportunity in the playground.
The white paper states that children will receive phonics screening checks at the age of 6-7, and multiplication tables checks at the age of 8-9 to make sure they are on track. What better way to make learning these two subjects fun than to take part in engaging outdoor playground games? Children can leap like a frog between the different lily pad sounds with our Phonics Pond playground marking and learn their times tables with our vibrant multiplication grids.
To support the achievement of 90% of children reaching the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths in KS2, it’s best to start during early years, with the recommended focus being on early speech and language skills.
Our 0-10 and 0-20 number characters are ideal for early years, enabling young children to familiarise themselves with their first numbers and associate the subject with friendly faces which in turn will encourage them to learn. Similar to the above, the same playground marking designs can be used to learn the alphabet.
Whilst these playground markings are great for encouraging outdoor learning, they can also be a valuable resource for improving children’s physical and mental wellbeing. A positive wellbeing will directly impact their behaviour, and schools with a strong behaviour culture will see a positive impact on their students’ attendance and attainment. This is particularly important when it is true that children with no absence at KS4 are almost 2 times more likely to achieve 5 or more GCSEs than children who missed 10-15% of lessons! So, getting them in to the right mindset and habit at an early age is crucial.
What’s more, playground markings can even help with achieving an outstanding Ofsted rating. From supporting the quality of education, personal development, and behaviours and attitudes – you can find out more information in this blog post.
The Governments objectives to ‘level up’ education goes for all children and young people including those with special educational needs. Many of our playground markings are inclusive and suitable for SEND schools too but if there’s a design we don’t have, we can create a completely bespoke design for you, or modify any of our current designs to suit your requirements.
As cited in the white paper, “the cornerstones of a broad, academic, knowledge-rich curriculum are literacy and numeracy. From early years, right through a child’s time in school, securing the basics of literacy and numeracy are non-negotiable as the gateway to further learning, attainment, and fulfilling experiences”.
So, don’t delay! Enrich your school playground with plentiful opportunities for learning English and maths in a way that is engaging and fun! Our playground markings will benefit children throughout their time at school as well as future pupils joining since they last up to ten years. Ask our friendly team for a free quote today and start your journey to achieving an improved education.
Jess Sparks
Jess is deeply committed to supporting our mission of positively impacting UK outdoor play environments to promote healthy lifestyles in children.
With a CIM Level 6 Diploma in Sustainable Marketing, Jess channels her passion for sustainability into her marketing role, using her skills to promote eco-conscious practices and raise awareness for our initiatives.
Jess’ experience within the industry is instrumental in driving engagement and supporting connections with those who require ultra-durable, high-grade playground markings both locally and internationally.