New Right

New Right

1. PERSPECTIVE

   • current education system no achieving these goals
     • state takes a 'OSFA' view on education - imposes uniformity and disregards local needs
     • S.E = unresponsive. schools that waste money/get poor results aren't answerable to consumers = lower stans, less qualified workers,less prosp economy
     • SOLUTION = MARKETISATION
       • comp between schools and laws of supply and demand = greater diversity choice and efficiency
   • Goals of educ
     • socialise pupils into shared values like comp and instil national identity
     • education should be based on meritocratic principles of open competition/serving the needs of the needs of economy
     • Some people are naturally more talented than others,
   • Private > state, State education wastes too much money. Prefer exams over coursework and feel we should move away from encouraging equality and focus

2. CHUBB AND MOE

   • American S.E failed and should be opened up to market forces (S+D)
   • disadvantaged groups treated badly by S.E as it fails to create equal opps
   • private schools = higher qual educ bcos they answer to paying consumers
   • propose voucher system: parents given voucher to spend on school of their choice. Schools would be more responsive to parents
   • CRIT: encourage schools to teach test in order to gain pupils/funding

3. MARKETISATION

   • ERA 1988 - education market introduced by reducing direct state control and increasing comp + parent choice
   • why do NR favour it?
     • argue that state control leads to low standards + lack of choice for parents
     • schools run more like business. Have to attract customers by competing.
       • the ones that meet needs thrive
       • those with poor results 'go out of business'
   • BALL + WHITTY - increased inequality
     • Exam league tables
       • parents attracted to schools higher on LT - these schools more in demand
       • more in demand schools can be selective - take on more able/MC students
       • lower on LT = cant be selective so have to take on less able students
       • results remain poor/ school unattractive
     • Formula funding
       • allocated funds depending on how many pupils they attract
       • Pop schools = more funding (better teachers/resources) and can be selective - take able/MC. Get better results + remain attractive
       • unpop = lose income and fail to attract pupils so funding further reduced (less able teachers/facilities)
   • BARTLETT: allows popular schools to
     • CREAM-SKIM: select higher quality students - get better results and cost less to teach
     • SILT-SHIFT: offload thos with learning difficulties - expensive to teach and get poorer results

4. TWO MAIN ROLES FOR STATE

   • impose framework for schools to compete in: LT and ofsted
     • gives parents info to make informed choices
   • ensure schools transmit shared culture through shared N.C so pupils are socialised into single cultural heritage
     • Emphasise Brit positive role in world history, teach Brit Lit and emphasise Christianity
     • oppose multi-cultural educ

5. INFLUENCE ON EDUCATIONAL POLICIES IN BRIT

   • 'THE GREAT DEBATE' -
     • James Callaghan (labour) = green paper on educ
     • time of rising unemployment, concerns that educ failing to produce skilled/motivated young workers
     • policies that followed known as NEW VOCATIONALISM
   • ECONOMIC GROWTH
     • education should concentrate on improving skills of the workforce
     • believed unemployment was growing bcos many school leavers were unemployable
   • COMP, CHOICE + STANS
     • all this would make the system more efficient and save money
   • TESTING/EXAMS
     • increase competition
     • conser: opposed to coursework, favour national exams

6. PARENTOCRACY

   • David: power from producers to consumers - encourages diversity and parents choice to increase standards
   • Ball; all a myth - makes it appear that all parents have freedom to choose
   • Gerwitz: MC better able to do this more economic and culture captial