Daily Politics from the New Statesman Is Bridget Phillipson really the most dangerous woman in Britain?
Feb 18, 2026
Pippa Bailey, executive editor at the New Statesman who wrote the cover profile on the education secretary, delves into Bridget Phillipson’s motivations and political positioning. She discusses Phillipson’s cautious reform style, white paper priorities like narrowing attainment gaps, pressures around SEND and EHCPs, and debates on phones, curriculum and academy powers. Short, vivid reporting from interviews and visits.
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Why Education Is Politically Fraught
- Education is unusually emotional because everyone has direct school experience and views on what should change.
- Ministers must prioritise who gains and who loses, so education reforms inevitably upset some groups.
Gove's Legacy Is Mixed, Not Monochrome
- Phillipson accepts some Gove-era reforms improved standards but sees the overall picture as mixed.
- International rankings can mislead; comparing England against itself shows a more nuanced outcome.
Schools Aren't Islands
- Phillipson emphasizes schools don't operate in isolation and external social supports matter for learning.
- Cuts to services like Sure Start and falling school budgets reduce teachers' capacity to teach the curriculum effectively.