The Changing Government of Education

Originally published in 1986. As the keystone of public policy-making and social reform in the post-war period, education has been expected to fuel economic growth, facilitate equality of opportunity, and afford social justice to the deprived. But its vision and objectives are now being questioned in ways which have enormous implications for the management of the service - the traditional balances of autonomy, power and accountability are being redefined. The contributors to this book discuss the effects that this changing environment has had upon a variety of practitioners, and analyse problems and initiatives that are developing within key policy sectors in curriculum and assessment, in the professionalism of teachers, in planning, and in finance. Three major alternative strategies for resolving current dilemmas in the government of education are then reviewed: a further concentration of power at the centre; a community service which would decentralize decision-taking to schools and their local communities; a strengthening of the powers of the local authority. Finally, the editors evaluate these alternatives before proposing their own reconstruction of the government of education.

Foreword. Introduction Stewart Ranson and John Tomlinson Part 1: Strains Among the Education Partners 1. Parliament Chris Price 2. The Department of Education and Science Edward Simpson 3. The Local Authority Associations Jack Springett 4. The County LEA Geoffrey Morris 5. The Metropolitan LEA William Stubbs 6. The Teachers John Sayer 7. The Inspectors Norman Thomas 8. The Listening School: Parents and the Public Joan Sallis 9. The MSC Geoffrey Holland Part 2: Analysing Developments in Policy Sectors 10. Curriculum and Assessment Denis Lawton 11. Teacher Professionalism and Professionalization John Eggleston 12. Managing Contraction Kieron Walsh 13. Finance of Education Tony Travers Part 3: Scenarios for the Government of Education 14. A National Service: Strengthening the Centre I Maurice Peston 15. A National Service: Strengthening the Centre II Barry Taylor 16. A Community Service: Strengthening the Institution I David Hargreaves 17. A Community Service: Strengthening the Institution II Tim Brighouse 18. A Local Service: Strengthening the LEA John Stewart Part 4: Conclusions 19. An Alternative View of Education and Society Stewart Ranson and John Tomlinson 20. Government for a Learning Society Stewart Ranson 21. The Education System Restructured John Tomlinson