The British education system faces potential breakdown, the Green Party leader has warned, with his party pledging to obtain extra money for schools through taxing wealthy people.
Speaking at the National Education Union’s yearly conference in Brighton, Zack Polanski said Britain was currently reducing rather than expanding the future opportunities available to its young people.
He stressed that schools need a significant financial injection to combat funding cuts in real terms that have taken place since 2010.
Mr Polanski went on to say the Green Party has a plan to levy taxes on the enormous wealth being amassed in this country and must make certain that money can flow throughout the economy to places that urgently need it, including schools.
The Green Party leader received enthusiastic applause from delegates upon finishing his speech.
He declared it gives him deep sorrow to think about the children and young people who in 2026 could have their lives changed through education in the way his own was, but who are currently being denied those chances because governments consistently refuse to provide the required funding.
Laying out his party’s position on education, Mr Polanski emphasised the urgent need to better conditions for children with special educational needs and disabilities who are not receiving suitable support, while calling for greater school funding, the removal of the schools inspectorate Ofsted, and condemning the constant testing of pupils.
He additionally described academy schools as a failed experiment.
Mr Polanski told delegates they constantly hear statements about the importance of giving children a good education, yet funding for schools and colleges is reaching crisis point. Governments one after another have heaped praise on teachers, recognising the worth of their work, yet then refused to give adequate pay. So if they maintain education is the bedrock of this country, they must start acting like it.
However, he recognised there are limits to what teachers can accomplish when children and families are dealing with rising costs and financial strain.
The cost-of-living situation represents a crisis for childhood and education, Mr Polanski told teachers. He described how every day teachers see children turning up tired, hungry, unable to concentrate and learn because of poor nutrition or not getting enough sleep. He noted children skipping lessons because they cannot afford transport costs, calling this disgraceful and something that should make everyone angry.
He stated that the Green Party would tackle these problems through policies intended to ease financial pressures on families by addressing issues such as unaffordable rents and energy bills.
Mr Polanski also argued that education acts as a vital instrument in combating far-right movements. He noted much of the frustration, unrest and conflict in the country comes from a political and economic system that has pushed communities to the limit and repeatedly stopped people from imagining alternatives. He expressed concern that no alternative seems to exist and that things cannot get better.
Mr Polanski said he would reveal more details about the Green Party’s plan for improving education ahead of the next general election.
When journalists asked about his stance on blocking social media access for those under 16, a policy backed by the NEU, the party leader did not push for a complete ban. He stressed the importance of protecting young people from content unsuitable for their age or harmful to their mental wellbeing, and voiced support for stronger regulation of social media companies.
The Government is currently examining safeguards for young people online, which could include an Australia-style full ban for under-16s or alternatives like time limits and usage restrictions.
Speaking at the same event, NEU president Ed Harlow criticised the misogynistic content pushed at teenage boys by certain social media personalities and far-right ideologies that promote negative views of migrants.
Mr Harlow told delegates that young men are being shaped by figures from the manosphere promoting a damaging, toxic idea of masculinity based on extreme misogyny, incel ideology and materialistic values.
He added they must reach out to communities where far-right groups organise and make it clear that migrants are not to blame, Muslims are not to blame, trans people are not to blame. People have real concerns, but they must never channel anger towards vulnerable groups.
The Labour Government has introduced free breakfast clubs in primary schools, removed the two-child benefit cap, and created family hubs to help parents access support in their local areas.