This final article reviews the whole package of school reforms introduced by the Thatcher and Major governments in Britain. It locates the peculiar combination of policies of centralization and decentralization within the broader political project of the New Right. It concludes from the research evidence so far available that these policies are likely to exacerbate existing inequalities in educational provision rather than overcome them Finally, it suggests that there is an urgent need to find new ways of making education a collective responsibility, rather than a private good.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Arnot, M. , David, M., & Weiner, G. (1996). Educational reforms and gender equality in schools. Manchester, UK: EOC
2.
Arnott, M. , Bullock, A., & Thomas, H. (1992, February 12). Consequences of local management: An assessment by head teachers.Paper presented to the ERA Research Network, University of Warwick
3.
Arnove, R. (1996, March 6-10). Neoliberal education policies in Latin America: Arguments in favor and against.Paper delivered to the Comparative and International Education Society, Williamsburg, VA.
4.
Association of Teachers and Lecturers . (1996). Level best revisited. London: Author.
5.
Bardett, W. (1993). Quasi-markets and educational reforms. In J. Le Grand & W. Bartlett (Eds.), Quasi-markets and social policy (pp. 125-153). London: Macmillan.
6.
Blackmore, J. (1995). Breaking out from a masculinist politics of education. In B. Limerick & B. Lingard (Eds.), Gender and changing education management. Rydalmere, NSW, Australia: Hodder Education.
7.
Bowe, R. , Ball, S. J., & Gold, A. (1992). Reforming education adn changing schools. London: Roudedge
8.
Boyson, R. (1990, May 18). [Review of T. Edwards, J. Fitz, & G. Whitty, The state and private education.] The Times Higher Education Supplement.
9.
Bullock, A. , & Thomas, H. (1994). The impact of local management of schools: Final report. Birmingham, UK: University of Birmingham.
10.
Bush, T. , Coleman, M., & Glover, D. (1993). Managing autonomous schools. London: Paul Chapman.
11.
Campbell, J. , & Neill, S. (1994). Curriculum at Key Stage 1: Teacher commitment and policy failure. Harlow, UK: Longman.
12.
Chubb, J. , & Moe, T. (1990). Politics, markets and America's schools. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution.
13.
Chubb, J. , & Moe, T. (1992). A lesson in school reform from Great Britain. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution.
14.
Cox, T. , & Sanders, S. (1994). The impact of the National Curriculum on the teaching of five year olds. London: Falmer.
15.
Dale, R. (1989). The state and education policy. Milton Keynes, UK: University Press.
16.
Daugherty, R. (1997). National Curriculum assessment: The experience of England and Wales.Educational Administration Quarterly, 33, 198-218.
17.
Dearing, R. (1993). The National Curriculum and its assessment: Interim report. York/London: National Curriculum Council/School Examinations and Assessment Council.
18.
Department for Education . (1992). Choice and diversity. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
19.
Department for Education and Employment . (1996). Self-government for schools. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
20.
Edwards, T. , Fitz, J., & Whitty, G. (1989). The state and private education: An evaluation of the assisted places scheme. London: Falmer.
21.
Feintuck, M. (1994).Accountability and choice in schooling. Buckingham, UK: Open University Press.
22.
Foucault, M. (1988). [Interview]. In L. D. Kritzman, (Ed.), Politics/philosophy/culture. New York: Routledge.
23.
Gamble, A. (1988). The free economy and the strong state. London: Macmillan.
24.
Gewirtz, S. , Ball, S. J., & Bowe, R. (1995). Markets, choice and equity. Milton Keynes, UK: Open University Press.
25.
Gipps, C. (1993). National Curriculum assessment in England and Wales. London: University of London, Institute of Education.
26.
Glatter, R. , Woods, P., & Bagley, C. (1995, June 7-8). Diversity, differentiation and hierarchy: School choice and parental preference.Paper presented at the ESRC/CEPAM Invitation Seminar on Research on Parental Choice and School Response, Milton Keynes, UK.
27.
Glennerster, H. (1991). Quasi-markets for education?Economic Journal, 101, 1268-1276.
28.
Gordon, L. (1995). Controlling education: Agency theory and the reformation of New Zealand schools.Educational Policy, 9(1), 55-74.
29.
Halpin, D. , Power, S., & Fitz, J. (1991). Grant-maintained schools: Making a difference without being really different.British Journal of Educational Studies, 39, 409-424.
30.
Halpin, D. , Power, S., & Fitz, J. (in press). Opting into the past? Grant maintained schools and the reinvention of tradition. In R. Glatter, P. Woods, & C. Bagley (Eds.), Choice and diversity in schooling: Perspectives and prospects. London: Routledge.
31.
Hillgate Group . (1987). The reform of British education. London: Claridge.
32.
Hughes, M. (1997). The National Curriculum in England and Wales: A lesson in externally imposed reform?Educational Administration Quarterly, 33, 183-197.
33.
Kenway, J. (1993). Marketing education in the postmodern age.Journal of Education Policy, 8(1), 105-122.
34.
LeGrand, J. , & Bartlett, W. (Eds.). (1993). Quasi-markets and social policy. London: Macmillan.
35.
Levacic, R. (1995). Local management of schools: Analysis and practice. Milton Keynes, UK: Open University Press.
36.
MacLeod, D. (1995). School meals reveal "sham" of equality.The Guardian, 5, p. 6.
37.
Marren, E. , & Levacic, R. (1994). Senior management, classroom teacher and governor responses to local management of schools.Educational Management and Administration, 22(1), 39-53.
38.
McKenzie, J. (1993, January 8-10). Education as a private problem or a public issue? The process of excluding "education" from the "public sphere. "Paper presented to the International Conference on the Public Sphere, Manchester, UK.
39.
Moe, T. (1994). The British battle for choice. In K. L. Billingsley (Ed.), Voices on choice: The education reform debate (p. 23-33). San Francisco: Pacific Institute for Public Policy.
40.
Passmore, B. (1996, October 11). Satisfaction grows over tests at 14. The Times Educational Supplement, p. 10.
41.
Pollard, A. , Broadfoot, P., Croll, P., Osborn, M., & Abbott, D. (1994). Changing English primary schools? The impact of the Education Reform Act at Key Stage One. London: Cassell.
42.
Power, S. , Fitz, J., & Halpin, D. (1994). Parents, pupils and grant maintained schools.British Educational Research Journal, 20(2), 209-226.
43.
Raab, C. , Munn, P., McAvoy, L., Bailey, L., Arnott, M., & Adler, M. (1997). Devolving the management of schools in Britain.Educational Administration Quarterly, 33, 140-157.
44.
Rafferty, F. (1994, August 5). Alarm at growth of 60 hour week. The Times Educational Supplement, p. 1.
45.
Rafferty, F. (1996, August 9). Working week grows longer. The limes Educational Supplement, p. 1.
46.
Ranson, S. (1993, March 25-26). Renewing education for democracy.Paper contributed to an Institute of Public Policy Research Seminar on alternative education policies, London.
47.
Rose, N. , & Miller P. (1992). Political power beyond the state: Problematics of government.British Journal of Sociology, 43(2), 173-205.
48.
School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (SCAA) . (1996). Consultation on values in education and the community. London: Author.
49.
Sexton, S. (1987). Our schools: A radical policy. Warlington, UK: Institute of Economic Affairs Education Unit.
50.
Smith, T. , & Noble, M. (1995). Education divides: Poverty and schooling in the 1990s. London: Child Poverty Action Group.
51.
Steams, K. (1996). School reform: Lessons from England. Princeton, NJ: Carnegie Foundation.
52.
Tooley, J. (1995). Markets or democracy? A reply to Stewart Ranson.British Journal of Educational Studies, 43(1), 31-34.
53.
Vincent, C. , Evans, J., Lunt, I., & Young, P. (1995). Policy and practice: The changing nature of special educational provision in schools.British Journal of Special Education, 22(1), 4-11.
54.
Walford, G. (1992). Educational choice and equity in Great Britain.Educational Policy, 6(2), 123-138.
55.
Walford, G. (1997). Diversity, choice, and selection in England and Wales.Educational Administration Quarterly, 33, 158-169.
56.
West, A. , Pennell, H., & Edge, A. (1997). Exploring the impact of reform on school enrollment policies.Educational Administration Quarterly, 33, 170-182.
57.
Whitty, G. (1985). Sociology and school knowledge: Curriculum theory, research and politics. London: Methuen.
58.
Whitty, G. (1989). The New Right and the National Curriculum: State control or market forces?Journal of Education Policy, 4(4), 329-341.
59.
Whitty, G. (1992). Education, economy and national culture. In R. Bocock & K. Thompson (Eds.), Social and cultural forms of modernity (pp. 267-309). Cambridge, UK: Polity.
60.
Whitty, G. , Edwards, T., & Gewirtz, S. (1993). Specialisation and choice in urban education: The City Technology College experiment. London: Routledge.
61.
Whitty, G. , Rowe, G., & Aggleton, P. (1994). Subjects and themes in the secondary school curriculum.Research Papers in Education, 9, 159-181.
62.
Young, M. , & Whitty, G. (Eds.). (1977). Society, state and schooling. Lewes, UK: Falmer.
