Privatisation and Education

What is privatisation?:

  • Transfer of assets and resources from state control into the hands of the private sector

  • Neo-liberal economic policy dominant in the UK since 1979 has looked to create a ā€˜small stateā€™

  • Differs from private education- fee-paying schools not directly funded by government

Privatisation within the education system:

  • Schools operating like private businesses

    • Performance targets

    • Marketing

    • Greater efficiency and profitability

  • Schools able to opt out of LEA control and manage themselves

  • Academisation- importing business principles into education establishments

Privatisation of the education system:

  • Outsourcing of services within education private companies

    • Growth of academy trusts

    • Educational consultants

    • Examination services

    • Developing educational brands

    • Private investment in school buildings

Contemporary applications:

  • Range of academy trusts operating large numbers of sites:

    • 738 academy trusts operating in the UK

      • 13 MATs have 26 or more schools

    • Growth of exam boards, such as Pearson, supply exam materials globally

Criticism:

  • Control over the curriculum by companies could influence the content taught

  • Cola-isation of schools (Stephen Ball)

  • Focus on profit rather than progress- some courses/services are cut if unprofitable

  • Academics can use untrained and unqualified teachers

  • Can opt out of National Curriculum