20 years of reforming England. Equal opportunities in competing schools Cover Image

20 év reform Angliában – A versengő iskolák és az esélyteremtés
20 years of reforming England. Equal opportunities in competing schools

Author(s): Eszter Neumann
Subject(s): History of Education, State/Government and Education, Social development, Social differentiation, Sociology of Education
Published by: Akadémiai Kiadó
Keywords: Educational reforms; England; history of education; education quality;

Summary/Abstract: Eszter Neumann gives a review of the educational reforms that took place in the last two decades in England with a special focus on equity issues. The first part of the article gives a brief overview of the neo-liberal educational policies and explains the recent shift to centralization carried out with the use of knowledge-based regulation tools. Policies addressing disadvantaged students are embedded into larger programs that are meant to improve the quality of education in general. Next, the paper discusses the various interpretations and frameworks of equal educational opportunities that have been in use in the past 20 years through the analysis of specific educational programs which encourage the dissemination of innovative ideas and best practices in schools located in economically depressed areas. All in all, the question rises whether the policy goals of equity and educational excellence are conflicting or could be achieved parallel.

  • Issue Year: 17/2008
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 557-566
  • Page Count: 10
  • Language: English