Performance Tracker 2026: Schools
Think tank: Institute for Government
Author(s): Amber Dellar
October 7, 2026
This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government states the government should set out a clear long-term vision for the structure of the school system.
By the time Andy Burnham entered government earlier this year, an ambitious education agenda was already well under way. Over its two years in office, the Starmer government had queued up a crowded set of priorities: schools asked to raise attainment, improve attendance, tackle teacher shortages, transition to a new model of governance, and help to rebuild a broken special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system – alongside much more. Some of those objectives are well within reach. Others however are far harder.
This report, part of our Public Services Performance Tracker 2026 series, discusses the government’s goals on attainment and absence, the teacher workforce, SEND reform, the funding schools have at hand to meet those goals, and the structure of the school system. It draws on analysis of publicly available data and 20 semi-structured interviews with policy experts and staff working in government, schools and trusts, representative bodies and the third sector.
