PA warns relaunch of Oak National Academy 'risks causing irreparable damage' to sector

The Publishers Association (PA) has warned that the Department for Education’s plans to make Oak National Academy a new government arm’s-length body (ALB), providing free curriculum resources to schools, “risks causing irreparable damage to the commercial education resources sector”. 

TES reported the DfE will relaunch Oak National as a government quango this autumn, but with a “drastically reduced curriculum" after multi-academy trust United Learning decided not to sign over its intellectual property. 

The PA has been critical of the government’s plans to move the academy into public hands since they were first revealed earlier this year, arguing they will hit educational publishers and ultimately "damage teacher choice and student outcomes".

Dan Conway, c.e.o. at the PA, said he was “extremely concerned” the DfE will be progressing with its plans, despite calls from the industry to reconsider, and said they were “even more far-reaching than previously proposed”.  

He said: “The new approach will put further strain on already stretched public funds and risk severely damaging teacher choice and learner outcomes. In its attempt to create a one-size-fits-all state publisher, the government is stripping teachers of their autonomy and creativity in the classroom. Instead of teachers choosing what’s best for their pupils, Whitehall will decide exactly what each of our children learn in school and how. Not only will this negatively impact children across the country, but it also risks causing irreparable damage to the commercial education resources sector. 

“We are not alone in holding these very significant concerns and note United Learning’s decision to withdraw lessons and their unease about a ‘government-approved’ curriculum. Oak played an important role at a time of national crisis, but this rushed plan is a massive over-extension of their remit that will harm everyone in the sector. There’s no evidence teachers or parents want this, and it’s being hurried through without proper consultation or scrutiny by a caretaker government. We urge them to reconsider.” 

The Bookseller has approached the DfE for comment. A spokesperson told TES that Oak’s conversion to an arm’s-length body marked “a significant milestone” as the department worked towards its relaunch in the autumn. 

They added: “Oak, as the new curriculum body, will ensure that high-quality lessons are available nationwide for the benefit of all children, working with teachers across the country. Free, optional and adaptable digital curriculum resources in six priority subjects will be fully available by September 2024, following a procurement exercise. 

“The majority of Oak’s existing resources will be accessible in the meantime to ensure that teachers are able to manage their workload and deliver a world-class curriculum over the coming year.”