Most important education policies for parents

The research, conducted by MyEd, commissioned YouGov to poll 1,342 parents across the UK on a selection of educational issues that could be prioritised in the build up to the general election in May.

MyEd revealed that 41 per cent of parents ranked the need for a cap on class sizes as one of their top three priorities, whilst 34 per cent desired teachers to be fully qualified. A further 33 per cent of parents preferenced vocational opportunities in schools as of high importance, wanting schools to provide better apprenticeships.

The research showed a greater significance on school education, and less parents concerned with policy affecting both nursery years and higher education. Only 17 per cent of parents approached felt that extension of free nursery provision was a priority, while 28 per cent considered a reduction in university tuition fees from £9,000 per year to £6,000 per years as a leading preference.

Professor Upkar Pardesi, co-founder and chairman of MyEd, said: “Parents are increasingly aware of the type of education environment they want fostered for their child, and choosing a political manifesto which furthers their child’s learning will be a key consideration. It’s perhaps not surprising that parents rate a cap on class size as the most important education policy, as it’s one that would have an immediate beneficial effect on a child’s classroom experience.”

In addition to policy prioritisation, the YouGov poll also asked parents about their experiences of Ofsted reports. The research found that the reports, which evaluate the successes and failings of educational establishments, were not fully popular among parents. It disclosed that 23 per cent of parents claiming to never have read one, and only 17 per cent believing them to be useful ad easy to read.