Brexit has put paid to conventional political debate about vital domestic issues such as transport, the health service and education. Even now, as the party conference season gets into full swing, debate about what is happening to hospitals and schools is overshadowed by Britain’s tortuous departure from the European Union.
The lack of discourse is particularly unfortunate for education. The past 25 years of testing, target-setting, league tables and Ofsted inspections have taken their toll on schools.