THE National Education Union (NEU) launched its manifesto for education today.

The union urged politicians to commit to 10 key policy areas including an increase education spending from 4.2 to 5 per cent of GDP. 

It also calls for the end to child poverty, starting with the removal of the two-child benefit cap and rollout of universal free school meals. 

Proposals also include an end to government tests in primary schools, an overhaul of the assessment of 14 to 19-year-olds to stop the “exam factory culture,” ending the school staff recruitment crisis by making pay competitive and abolishing the Ofsted inspectorate.

The NEU wants to replace it with a “collaborative and supportive” system, focused on giving good advice and feedback to schools.

NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede said: “This general election is a watershed moment. It’s an opportunity for whoever forms the next government to give our children the education they deserve.

“Through years of underfunding, schools have been forced to narrow the education experience of children just to balance the books. 

“The scale of child poverty has grown to an alarming degree and teachers and parents know only too well the impact this has on learning.”

He said these issues are just the tip of the iceberg, and called for “serious commitments from the major parties on education.”

The manifesto also calls for a curriculum that embeds anti-racism and guarantees access to a broad range of subjects including the arts and PE, providing appropriate special needs support quickly and without unnecessary bureaucracy, and tighter regulation of social media companies to protect children from online harm and prioritise their welfare.