Schools have been 鈥渟idelined鈥 in favour of 鈥減opulist talk on immigration, polarised positions on trans rights and removing the right to protest鈥, a headteachers鈥 union leader has warned. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of , told its annual conference that all politicians must 鈥渞aise your game out of the gutter of smears, misdirection, and the creation of division to simply win a vote鈥. His comments come amid a disastrous set of local election results for the Conservatives, who have already lost over 170 council seats and with around a third of races still to be called. Whiteman told delegates that 鈥渇or the best part of fifteen years now, schools have been treated as though they鈥檙e a sideline, a niche portfolio to be considered once all populist talk on immigration, polarised positions on trans rights, and removing the right to protest have been exhausted鈥. 鈥淥h and let鈥檚 not forget the right to strike. The effect of such neglect on our schools has been pernicious. 鈥淚f political parties think the electorate haven鈥檛 noticed, or simply don鈥檛 care, I strongly suspect they鈥檙e all going to have a nasty shock during the election campaign.鈥 Whiteman appealed to all politicians to 鈥渞aise your game out of the gutter of smears, misdirection, and the creation of division to simply win a vote. 鈥淚nstead have vision and put a compelling proposition to the country. Don鈥檛 simply be less bad than the others.鈥 Education needs ‘transformative’ NHS-style vision The conference is being held in Newport, South Wales, and Whiteman paid tribute to Welsh Labour politician Nye Bevan, who spearheaded the creation of the National Health Service. The NHS was a 鈥渢ransformative vison for a health service that even after 70 years we value more and more each day鈥. 鈥淲here is the modern politician that will have a similar level of ambition for the nation鈥檚 children and young people? Who will create an education system that the whole country will value in the same way as the NHS? 鈥淲ho will promise an education settlement that goes beyond talking big, and delivers great things for the future of the nation?鈥 He said if education secretary Gillian Keegan 鈥渃omes up short鈥, 鈥渨ill it be Bridget [Phillipson] that can persuade her party of the case and satisfy the country鈥檚 need?鈥 鈥淲hoever it is we will be undeterred because educators care in their heart. We鈥檙e going to keep banging the drum and making the case for education. NAHT, fiercely political neutral but we won鈥檛 hold back on our expectations or calling it out when political leaders are wrong.鈥 ‘Education is not a drain on the public purse’ He said the prospect of a general election 鈥渂rings with it new opportunities鈥. 鈥淎nd my message to the electorate is to demand radically ambitious plans for education. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a drain on the public purse but an essential and urgent investment in the nation鈥檚 future. If you鈥檙e serious about building a better future, then you need to start with schools, where futures are created.鈥 Schools are 鈥渟ome of this country鈥檚 most successful institutions, and that鈥檚 largely due to the talent, determination and hard work of our members and their staff, so why not build on this? 鈥淲hy not aim to make our schools the very best in the world? It needn鈥檛 be a pipe dream.鈥 Motion to explore ‘legal and industrial’ routes on Ofsted The NAHT conference will tomorrow debate an emergency motion on Ofsted, calling on the union to 鈥渆xplore all campaign, legal and industrial routes to secure necessary changes to inspection to safeguard leaders鈥 lives鈥. Whiteman acknowledged the 鈥減ositive change in tone and open attitude for change鈥 displayed since Sir Martyn Oliver became chief inspector in January. Oliver will address the conference tomorrow. But Whiteman said the government鈥檚 recent response to the education select committee, which rejected calls to scrap single-phrase judgments, 鈥渉as left a chill in the air鈥. He added: 鈥淭heir complete failure to really address the damage being done is reckless. Martyn, we cannot blame you for the recklessness of government. But we need more actions to accompany your words too, and fast.” He said the accountability system in its current form 鈥渞esembles a diseased root which creates further havoc across the school ecosystem鈥. 鈥淥ver time we can create a system that will guarantee quality and support continuous improvement but not damage school leaders and their teams. 鈥淏ut relief is needed immediately. The nation cannot afford to continue to haemorrhage experienced teachers and leaders.鈥