New Labour Policies 1997

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

Labour governments since 1997 sought to reduce inequality of achievement
& promote greater diversity, choice & competition by continuing
marketisation policies. The policies aimed at reducing inequality included

Question 2

Policies

Answer 2

Excellence in Cities – launched in 1999 & a form of compensatory education targeted at deprived inner-city areas, particularly focusing on raising the aspirations of boys & the working class.
• The Aim Higher programme to raise the aspirations of groups who are under-represented in higher education, such as the working classes.

• Introduction of the National Literacy Strategy, literacy & numeracy hours, & reducing primary school class sizes. It is claimed these policies are of greater benefit to disadvantaged groups & so help to reduce inequality.
• The introduction of academies – a new type of school partially funded by local businesses to tackle underperforming schools.

Question 3

A03

Answer 3

see a contradiction between Labour’s policies to tackle inequality & its commitment to marketisation – something she calls the ‘New Labour paradox’. E.g. despite introducing EMAs to encourage poorer students to stay in education, Labour also introduced tuition fees for higher education that may deter them from going to university.