Education Policy Tripartite Education system (1944) Comprehensive Education system (1965) Education Reform Act (1988) New Labour (1997)
Lesson Objective To evaluate educational policy introduced by the Labour Government from 1997. New Labour Reforms
New Labour 1997 Education = economic success = skills focus Aims Education = economic success = skills focus Literacy and numeracy are essential Need to support some groups who are not succeeding (compensatory education)
Are New Labour so new? ……not really, they kept much of the Conservative policy: League tables School inspections Vocational education Powers to take over failing schools National Curriculum Testing LMS
Stuff they got rid of… The assisted places scheme – that helped middle class parents with private school fees Grant Maintained Status ended – developing Specialist schools’/’Foundation schools’ instead
Education Policy
The New Policies Reducing class sizes to under 30 Literacy and numeracy hours in primary schools After school homework clubs Social exclusion units Education Action Zones University fees paid by students
Reducing class sizes Details Smaller class sizes in primary schools Why? More one to one/personal contact Greater individual guidance Behaviour management
Literacy/Numeracy Hours Details Special timetable slots for reading and number skills Why? Improve key skills Needs of employers/economy Enable students to access curriculum/opportunities
After school homework clubs Details Funding for schools to run extra classes after school Compensatory education approach Why? Compensate ‘deprived’ students Equal opportunities for all
Social Exclusion Units Details Special support for deprived pupils Why? Compensatory education – to enable equal opportunities/headstart
Education Action Zones Details Over 50 areas in UK – poor- received additional resources/funding Why? Compensatory education for deprived Overcome poverty/barriers to opportunity
University Course Fees Details Students have to contribute to university fees Repay fees when earning over a certain sum Why? Economic issues – reduce state spending Why should average taxpayer fund middle class children to climb ladder?