In 1997 Tony Blair promised that education would be at the centre of government policy and a broad range of initiatives has continued the dramatic pace of change in curriculum, management and organization set in the Thatcher years. This text provides a comprehensive but critical assessment of the making of education policy in Britain in the 21st century covering pre-school and higher as well as primary and secondary education and taking full account of the impact of devolution.

Table of Contents

Why education matters; the rise and fall of the post-War consensus; from Callaghan to Major - 1976-97; education and New Labour; the changing worlds of education policy; the evolving curriculum from 5 to 14; the 14-19 continuum - issues and policies for education and training; pre-School provision, higher education and lifelong learning; issues of diversity, equality and citizenship.

Author Biography

CLYDE CHITTY is Goldsmiths Professor of Policy and Management in Education, Goldsmiths College, University of London. He is author, co-author or editor of over 20 books and reports on education including Thirty Years On (with Caroline Benn) and The Education System Transformed for which the present text is designed as a much broadened, extended and completely recast replacement.