Privatisation and Globalisation of Education

GOVERNMENT:

• In 2010 a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government was elected.

• Their education policies were strongly influenced by Neo-Liberals and the New Right.

SCHOOL ORGANISATIONS:

• Academies:

  • Given control over their curriculums.

  • Funding was taken from local authorities’ budgets and given directly to academies by central government.

• Free schools:

  • Directly funded by the state, but set up and run by parents, teachers, faith organisations and businesses rather than local authorities.

  • Claim to give parents control.

  • They have failed in Sweden where they only benefit highly educated families – educational ranking fallen since introduction.

  • USA charter schools are also critical for appealing to raise standards through strict pupil selection; UK do the same.

FRAGMENTATION:

• The comprehensive system being replaced by a patchwork of diverse provision, much of it including private providers, that leads to greater inequalities in opportunities (depending on the area).

CENTRALISATION:

• Central government alone has the power to allow or require schools to become academies or allow free schools to be set up.

• These schools are funded directly by central government.

• Rapid growth has greatly reduced the role of elected local authorities in education.

POLICIES FOR EQUALITY:

• Free school meals (FSM) and pupil premium (money received by schools for students from disadvantaged backgrounds).

• Educational Maintenance Allowance (Labour government) – money for people continuing on after high school.

GLOBALISATION IN EDUCATION:

• Pearson: owns Edexcel, charge high prices for textbooks.

• Disney: own leading educational software.

• Prospect: provide the service to deliver educational policies in other countries, e.g China.

COLA-ISATION OF SCHOOLS:

• Introduction of branding and vending machines in schools.