Educational Policy: New Labour to Present

Following the marketisation revolution of the 1988 Education Reform Act, education policy continued to evolve under successive governments. The AQA specification requires you to understand and evaluate the policies of New Labour (1997-2010), the Coalition government (2010-2015), and Conservative governments (2015 onwards). You must also consider the growing role of privatisation and the influence of globalisation on education policy. A recurring theme is the tension between policies designed to raise standards and those designed to reduce inequality — and whether these goals are compatible.

Key Definition: Privatisation in education refers to the transfer of educational services, management, or funding from the public sector to private companies. This can range from full private ownership to contracting out specific services (e.g., school meals, building maintenance, curriculum design).

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New Labour (1997-2010)

Tony Blair famously declared that his three priorities were "education, education, education." New Labour's approach has been described as a "Third Way" — combining market-oriented policies inherited from the Conservatives with interventionist strategies aimed at reducing inequality. New Labour significantly increased education spending and introduced numerous policies designed to raise standards and promote social inclusion.

Key Policies