1.3.6 Labour education policies 1997-2010

Question 1

Who influenced the new labour government?

Answer 1

• Tony Blair & Gordon Brown were influenced by the New Right & Social Democratic ideals ( a paradox).
• Labour retained & modified New Right policies such as marketisation.
• Labour were committed to reducing inequality & aimed to improve WC oppurtunities.

Question 2

What are the policies which promote diversity,competition & choice?

Answer 2

• Specialist schools in 1997.
• The 2006 Education & Inspections Act.
• The 2001 Fresh Start Programme (city academies).
• Introduction of an additional table on league tables in 2006.
• Private Finance Initiative.
  -The 1998 Teaching & Higher Education Act (tuition fees).

Question 3

How do the policies promote diversity, competition & choice?

Answer 3

• Specialists schools were intended to be centres of excellence & raise standards of teaching & learning in specialist subjects.
• The 2006 Act gave greater freedom to be selective by setting their own admissions arrangements.
• city academies had new staff, names, uniform & buildings to improve standards particularly in disadvantaged communities.
• The additional table was based on social factors.
• Private finance initiative meant private contractors & the state jointly funded building.
• Labour introduced tuition fees at 3000 per year.

Question 4

What did the New Labour say in the ‘Excellence in cities’ document in 1997?

Answer 4

• They wanted to overcome economic & social disadvantage & make equality of opportunity a reality
• They set about targeting support on disadvantaged groups through introducing measures.

Question 5

What are the policies which were created to reduce inequalities?

Answer 5

• 1997 Education Action Zones replaced with Excellence in cities in 1999.
• The 1997 Educational Maintenance Allowance. (EMA)
• The 1998 New Deal.
• Free pre-school nursery provision in 1998.
• Sure start in 1999.
• The 2002 Gifted & Talented initiative.
• The 2004 Aim Higher initiative.
• Raising the school leaving age to 17 in 2008

Question 6

How did the policies reduce inequality?

Answer 6

• Education Action Zones were identified disadvantaged communities & provided additional with resources/funding.
• EMA aimed to increase the number of young people from low incomes to stay in school 7 progress to uni.
• New Deal aimed to help the young unemployed gain qualifications to improve chances of finding work.
• Sure Start aimed to give pre school children a better start in life by offering support 7 serviced to poorer parents to tackle deprivation.
• Aim Higher aimed to wider participation in higher education particularly among poorer pupil.