The UK finds itself in unchartered waters as the Conservative Party agreed to form a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats and the new government took office yesterday (Tuesday, 11 May). The two parties have published their Coalition Agreement, presenting the positions agreed between the two parties on a range of issues where they had previously declared contrasting views. A final Coalition Agreement covering the full range of policy issues is expected to follow in due course.

The current Coalition Agreement, dated 11 May 2010, covers the following issues: Deficit Reduction; Spending Review (which includes a commitment to fund a significant premium for disadvantaged pupils from outside the schools budget by reductions in spending elsewhere); Tax Measures; Banking Reform; Immigration (which includes the long-awaited commitment to end the detention of children for immigration purposes); Political Reform; Pensions and Welfare; Education (see below); Relations with the EU; Civil Liberties (which include outlawing the finger-printing of children at school without parental permission); and Environment.

With regard to Education, the Coalition Agreement states:

Schools
We agree to promote the reform of schools in order to ensure:
– that new providers can enter the state school system in response to parental demand;
– that all schools have greater freedom over curriculum; and,
– that all schools are held properly accountable.

Higher education
We await Lord Browne’s final report into higher education funding, and will judge its proposals
against the need to:
– increase social mobility;
– take into account the impact on student debt;
– ensure a properly funded university sector;
– improve the quality of teaching;
– advance scholarship; and,
– attract a higher proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
If the response of the Government to Lord Browne’s report is one that Liberal Democrats cannot accept, then arrangements will be made to enable Liberal Democrat MPs to abstain in any vote.

The Department for Education was formed today (Wednesday, 12 May) and will be responsible for education and children’s services. It takes the place of the Labour Government’s Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), whose name and colourful rainbow logo now belong to history. Conservative Party MP Michael Gove has been appointed Secretary of State for Education, while the Ministerial Team is expected to be named in the next few days. In an e-mail to civil servants Michael Gove said: “In the weeks ahead, I want us to offer all schools the chance to enjoy academy-style freedoms so that heads and teachers across the country can be liberated. This will be the focus of the legislation we hope to bring forward later this month.” It is widely expected that legislation for education will be announced in the Queen’s speech on 25 May.