1.7 The new labour government

• What years was the new labour government?

  1997-2010
• Who was the prime minister?

  Tony Blair
• What were the new labour government's aims?

  To improve the workforce of the U.K. through a focus in work related learning and training through vocational education
• What was the new labour government's strategy?

  Raised the leaving age of education to 18 in 2015
• Specialist schools


  Schools that focus on particular subjects
• What are the aims of specialist schools?

  To allow schools to specialise & excelCan select students who show they have an aptitude for the subjectGives parents more choice
• How many specialist schools were there in 1997-2010

  196-2,500
• What are academies?

  They are privately run but receive funding from the central government
• What can academies do?

  Allowed schools to have more choice on the curriculumThey have more freedom over their finances and teacher's pay & conditions
• What are the three strands to the new labour's educational policies?

  Raising standards, increasing diversity and choice within education & improving equality of education
• What policies to raise standards were made?

  Class sizes reduced to 30Literacy & numeracy hourExtension of school career & school dayTougher inspections
• What policies to reduce inequality of opportunity were made?

  Education action zones extra money for schools in deprived areasSure start- 12 hours a week free nursery for children aged 2-4Education maintenance allowance- £30 a week to encourage students from low income households to stay on in 16-18 education
• What policies to increase diversity & choice in education were made?

  Specialist schoolsChild centred learning- teachers need to focus on each child's individual learning needsSEN provisionFaith schools expanded
• What are the positives of new labour policies?

  Standards have improved & there's greater choice and diversitySATs & GCSEs scores have improved significantlyThere is now a greater diversity of schools and a greater variety of subjects you can study (AS & A-levels, vocational A-levels & the mix and match curriculumNew labour have established a 'learning society' where learning is highly valued & adults can learn skills
• What are criticisms of new labour policies?

  They haven't improved equality of educational opportunityThe gap between middle classes & working classes achievement continues to grow because of selection by cream skimming etcThe private school system still means that those with money can get their children a better education