The last quarter of the twentieth century was a very important period in history of education. Beginning with the so-called 'Great Debate', the period witnessed intense public and political interest in educational issues, culminating in an almost unprecedented amount of education-related legislation, the most symbolic of which was the Education Reform Act of 1988. Some scholars have rightly claimed that the education system was 'transformed' during this period, pointing to major changes in the ways in which schools, further education colleges and universities were organised, managed and controlled. Others have claimed that these changes altered the power relationships which had underpinned the education system since 1944. Given the sheer scale and pace of the education-policy related reforms of this period, this edited collection brings together some of the leading scholars in education to reflect on the major legislative and structural changes in education over the past few decades. Published in the year of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Callaghan's Ruskin College speech in 1976, it provides a definitive contemporary history of education policy in the late twentieth century. The editors bring together some of the leading educationalists to reflect on the major legislative and structural changes in the field over the last twenty five years. The book will be of use to education students on undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as students and academics working in social policy.
Author(s): John Furlong, Robert Phillips
Edition: 1
Year: 2001
Language: English
Pages: 288
Book Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 4
Contents......Page 5
List of illustrations......Page 9
Notes on contributors......Page 10
Introduction and historical overview......Page 14
Introduction and rationale......Page 16
Education, the state and the politics of reform: the historical context, 1976 2001......Page 25
The changing institutional context......Page 42
The colonisation of the primary curriculum......Page 44
Affirming and contesting the comprehensive ideal: from common schooling to selection?......Page 58
Further education: a suitable case for treatment?......Page 71
Creating a mass system of higher education: participation, the economy and citizenship......Page 85
Educational devolution and nation building in Wales: a different 'Great Debate?'......Page 100
Professionalism, accountability and standards......Page 114
The reinvention of teacher professionalism......Page 116
Reforming teacher education, re-forming teachers: accountability, professionalism and competence......Page 131
Empowerment or performativity? Assessment policy in the late twentieth century......Page 149
Standards, achievement and educational performance: a cause for celebration?......Page 169
Issues of equality......Page 188
Special needs education from Warnock to Salamanca: the triumph of liberalism?......Page 190
Some success, could do better: education and race 1976 2000......Page 205
Gender and education policy: continuities, transformations and critical engagements......Page 220
Restructuring the education/social class relation: a class choice?......Page 235
Conclusion......Page 250
Educational performance, markets and the state: present and future prospects......Page 252
Index......Page 268
