The Privatisation of Education

Question 1

privatisation

Answer 1

services owned by the state transferred to private companies

Question 2

privatisation - how much is spent on education in the UK?

Answer 2

£88b p/year

creating market for private investors

Question 3

privatisation - endogenous

Answer 3

within the education system

ideas from private sector imported to public sector to operate like private businesses

Question 4

privatisation - examples of endogenous ideas

Answer 4

• local management of schools
• competition
• performance related pay
• consumer choice
• league tables
• inspections
• per capita funding (schools funded by no of pupils attracted)

Question 5

privatisation - exogenous

Answer 5

from outside the education system

private businesses design aspects of education run by the state

Question 6

privatisation - examples of exogenous

Answer 6

• school services; training, meals, advice
• management of schools (academic enterprise trust owns 66 schools)
• school inspections on behalf of ofsted
• branding
• educational policy, consolation, research
• examination system (Pearson’s edexcel run by Pearson’s PLC)

Question 7

privatisation - against privatisation

Answer 7

• private providers may not reinvest profits in education, draining public money from education system into private-sector profits
• profit-making companies cherry pick best school to be easily improved
• companies may go out of business leaving children without school
• making money may override needs of children; allocate resources unevenly to maximise schools performance (educational triage)
• students seen as contribution to schools competitiveness/profits > valued as learners

Question 8

privatisation - for privatization

Answer 8

• their expertise can improve standards & attract students
• range of schools offers more choices
• profit-motive encourage private coma pies to improve failing schools