Labour Educational Policies 1997-2010

Question 1

What were education policies like under New Labour?

Answer 1

• Tony Blair + Gordon Brown were influenced by NR + Social Democratic ideas
• Retained + modified NR policies

Question 2

What were ‘Specialist Schools?’

Answer 2

• 1997 Labour inherited 196 SS from Conservatives
• 2007; Over 2,500 SS
• Over 75% of all secondary schools in England + Wales
• Select 10% of their pupil base, who had an aptitude for specialist subject

Question 3

What was the ‘Education and Inspections Act?’ 2006

Answer 3

Gave schools greater freedoms to be selective by setting own admission arrangements

Question 4

What was the ‘Fresh Start Programme?’ 2001

Answer 4

• Re-open failing schools as city academies

- Provided new staff + pupils in disadvantaged communities

Question 5

What was the ‘Additional Table?’ 2006

Answer 5

• Labour accepted NR view that competition would raise standards
• New League Table which showed social factors between schools
• High achieving disadvantaged schools would gain better results

Question 6

What was the ‘Private Finance Initiative?’

Answer 6

Involved private contractors + state jointly funds of new schools/colleges

Question 7

What education programmes of privatisation did Labour initiate?

Answer 7

• Exam boards
• SATS
• Ofsted inspections

Question 8

What was the ‘Teaching and Higher Education Act?’ 1998

Answer 8

• Tuition fees across the UK for undergraduate + postgraduate
• Originally £3,000 but increased to £9,000 by Coalition government

Question 9

Why were New Labour educational policy a paradox?

Answer 9

Influenced by both NR + Social democratic views

Question 10

What was the ‘Excellence in Cities’ policy? 1997

Answer 10

• Push towards overcoming economic + social disadvantages to make equality of opportunity
• Targeting poorer groups

Question 11

What were ‘Education Action Zones?’

Answer 11

• 1997 Some disadvantaged areas were identified as EAZ
• Provided with additional resources + funding
• Replaced by 1999 ‘Excellence in Cities Programme’

Question 12

What was the ‘Educational Maintenance Allowance? 1997

Answer 12

Aimed to increase number of WC pupils to stay in school + apply to university

Question 13

What was the ‘New Deal?’ 1998

Answer 13

Aimed to help the young unemployed gain qualifications to improve working opportunities

Question 14

What was the ‘Sure Start’ policy? 1999

Answer 14

• Provide pre-school children a better start in life by offering a range of educational opportunities
• Provides services for parents to tackle cultural + material deprivation

Question 15

What was the ‘Gifted and Talented’ policy? 2002

Answer 15

Identified top 5% of students aged 11-18 in inner city secondary schools + provide extra study support

Question 16

What was the ‘Aim Higher’ policy? 2004

Answer 16

Widen participation in higher education amongst students from low income backgrounds

Question 17

What was the ‘Leaving School Age’ policy? 2008

Answer 17

• Increased legal age of leaving education to 17 (Later 18 in 2015)
• Reduce the number of ‘Neets’

Question 18

Why were Labour’s education policies contradictory?

Answer 18

Encouraged the ‘Naming + shaming’ of underperforming schools