Neoliberalism and New Right perspective on education

Question 1

What did the new Right do and when

Answer 1

The New Right introduced the 1988 Education Reform Act and believe in Marketisation and Parentocracy within the framework of a National Curriculum and with teaching and learning monitored by OFSTED.

Question 2

What are the Underlying principles of the New Right

Answer 2

• They believe the state (government) cannot meet people’s needs.
• The most efficient way to meet people’s needs is through the free market – through private businesses competing with each other.
• Economic growth is an important overall goal – to be achieved by allowing individuals the freedom to compete with each other.

Question 3

What lead to the establishment of league tables

Answer 3

The New Right created an ‘education market’ – Schools were run like businesses – competing with each other for pupils and parents were given the choice over which school they send their children to rather than being limited to the local school in their catchment area. This lead to the establishment of league tables

Question 4

National Curriculum

Answer 4

The state was to provide a framework in order to ensure that schools were all teaching the same thing and transmitting the same shared values

Question 5

What is a criticism of the 1988 Education Act

Answer 5

Competition between schools benefitted the middle classes and lower classes, ethnic minorities and rural communities ended up having less effective choice – refer to the handout criticising the 1988 Education Act

Question 6

Is there a contradiction in the new right views

Answer 6

There is a contradiction between wanting schools to be free to compete and imposing a national framework that restricts schools

Question 7

What is a criticism of the The National Curriculum

Answer 7

The National Curriculum has been criticised for being ethnocentric and too restrictive on teachers and schools