Will Bickford Smith

Strategy means making choices – but too often, weaker programmes that escape scrutiny. It’s the opposite of the ‘bleeding stumps’ tactic – a quiet form of self-sabotage.

The result is the worst of all worlds: poorer outcomes, yet sustained inefficiency and complexity – with lots of small programmes that soak up staff and sap ministerial bandwidth.

“[N]othing gets cut but nothing gets funded properly” is spot on. Because government lacks a real strategic centre, departments often try to make savings by cutting big, effective programmes (because that’s where the money is) while protecting smaller, weaker ones.

Politicians must reclaim childhood as a national priority Spelling out a vision and a plan for children and their future is key to winning back hearts and minds

I’ve written a piece for @schoolsweek.bsky.social on what a better future for Britain’s children could look like - and the bold leadership we need to make it real.

schoolsweek.co.uk/politicians-...