Behind every result is a teacher | Burnley MP Oliver Ryan column

Hello all!

It’s great to be back in the swing of things following the long summer recess and last week was a bumper one in terms of legislation. We saw some cracking announcements, but something quite important slipped under most people’s radars…

PISA results were released last week. And the good news? England is doing well.

For those who haven’t come across them before, PISA is essentially a snapshot of how 15-year-olds are performing in reading, maths and science compared to students around the world.

Before I get into it any further, I want to give a big shout out to our teachers, teaching assistants, and all school staff across Burnley, Padiham, Brierfield and beyond.

The latest results show real progress and that coupled with our latest set of GCSE, A level and T Level results over recess, there’s an overall picture of stability and a return to pre-pandemic attainment.

But here’s the thing: the stats only tell half the story.

Behind every result is a real child. A real family. A teacher who has worked incredibly hard to get them there.

And while it’s right that we celebrate good results, we also need to ask a harder question: what about the children who aren’t getting the chance to reach their full potential?

Let me level with you: I got into politics after the Tory Government cut Education Maintenance Allowance, followed by my year being the first hit with tripled university tuition fees.

That experience shaped a lot of how I see education.

I believe every child should have the chance to make the most of their abilities, whether that means A levels, T Levels, an apprenticeship, university or going straight into their chosen industry.

A one-size-fits-all system simply doesn’t work.

Across Burnley, Padiham and Brierfield we have some cracking students and some brilliant schools. But they can only do so much in a system that is under huge pressure.

Earlier this year, I hosted a SEND roundtable which really brought that home.

The willingness to support children is there. Our teachers want to help. Our teaching assistants want to help. But too often, the system gets in the way. And worst of all, our kids are the ones who lose out.

We need to see more specialist provision locally for children with SEND. Every child deserves the support they need to thrive – so why are we still making it so difficult for them to get it?

I do see change happening through the SEND reforms earlier this year, alongside the support packages we have put in place to help schools deliver a robust curriculum.

But there is still more to do.

I also welcomed the Prime Minister’s remarks when he first got into office about the importance of ensuring young people don’t feel like they have to go to university to have a successful career.

University is a brilliant option, but it isn’t the only option.

Whether you want to become a doctor, an electrician, a teacher, an engineer, a chef or start your own business, education should give you the skills and confidence to get there.

Because ultimately, education is about opportunity. It’s about giving a young person from Burnley, Padiham or Brierfield the same chance to succeed as anyone else in the country.

It’s about giving the next generation the skills to build businesses, discover new cures for cancer and become the leaders of tomorrow.

And that’s why I’ll keep fighting for an education system that works for every child – not just the ones who happen to fit neatly into it. Because it takes all of us: teachers, families, schools and communities to give our young people the best possible start.