The new right

• Market forces

  • The New Right believes that private enterprise based on competition between businesses is the most efficient way to run any service.
  • They believe that services run by the state tend to be inefficient because, without competition, the service producers have less incentive to work hard.
• • They believe that, because there are no customers paying for the service, state education is unresponsive to its customers. 
  • They believe that competition is essential to raise standards and higher standards will create a more educated workforce that can better contribute to the economy. 
• They believe that the main purpose of education is to train a workforce, so there should be a greater emphasis on vocational training. 
• • The New Right has had an important influence on education policy in the UK, including: 
  • Allowing schools to be run more independently (e.g. academies and free schools). 
  • Wider parental choice and competition between schools (e.g. league tables and marketing).