Amid the horrors of the Second World War, a group of Board of Education officials met to plan a new public education system which would be fair to and free for all. In the seventy years since then, successive governments have not only failed to live up to their vision but have increasingly sought to interfere with the teaching and learning process…

During 1983 to 1991, the British government attempted to revolutionize the educational system via the "Thatcherist" 1988 Education Reform Act. A review of the articles published in "Educational Management & Administration" during this period shows that the journal did not offer a mirror of the times. The majority of…

Traces the chain of events involved in the conception and development of the British National Curriculum with special attention to the place of art and design. Describes the confusion concerning disciplinary boundaries, content, and attainment targets and questions the effect the confusion will have on art and design education. (LS)

Analyzes the mass media's role in creating a more competitive environment for schools following England's Education Reform Act. The media were supposed to help increase parental expectations and disseminate consumer information. Commercial motivations proved equally important. Schools received unprecedented attention, and the media became an…

Examines educational reforms relating to school choice introduced in England and Wales by Conservative governments. Evaluates whether choice has increased, and for whom, and whether desired achievement standards have been met. The range of schools has increased and student performance has improved. However, curricular diversity is constrained by…

The 1988 Education Reform Act and subsequent legislation sought to impose on English and Welsh educational services a form of site-based planning called "school development planning." This paper identifies key problems with this approach and instead proposes strategies for managing change and school improvement based on North American…

The article reviews changes since the 1970s in British higher education finances including the original University Grants, economic influences, and the impact of the 1988 Education Reform Act which established the University Funding Council and the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council. Noted is the nation's reliance on grants rather than…

Offers an overview of the revolutionary changes in education in England and Wales during the decade following the Education Reform Act of 1988. Concludes that the changes adopted by the Thatcher and Major governments during this revolution will not be reversed by their Labour successors but built upon for further reform. (CMK)

Describes the difficulties facing local education authorities (LEA) during the revolutionary period in British education. Illustrates that the role of the LEA has changed by exploring various definitions of LEAs proposed by the Audit Commission, the Conservative Government's White Paper "Self Government for Schools," and the White Paper…

The story of England's 1988 Education Reform Act is a sad account of a government's efforts to introduce educational innovations based on a political agenda. The result was teacher demoralization and at least 500 million pounds wasted on the national curriculum and its assessment. ERA's real aim was to encourage parental choice and open up…

In this article, the author discusses how England refines its accountability reforms. When the Conservative government crafted the Education Reform Act of 1988, which mandates a national curriculum for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well as national-curriculum tests at ages 7, 11, and 14, schools in England were permitted to secede from…

The English education system is undergoing radical change initiated by central government. Extensive delegation of financial control to the school level has been paralleled by introduction of a national curriculum and open enrollment. This paper explains England's educational finance structure and the central government's interest in delegated…

Recent British educational reforms, particularly the adoption of a national curriculum, have increased centralized control of education. Since 1988, teachers have witnessed the erosion of universities' role in teacher training, the "marketization" of the national inspection system for schools, and the imposition of school assessment…

Explores three constitutional responses to religion and the respective consequences for moral education. Explores the place of England and Wales on this spectrum, and examines the effects of the 1988 Educational Reform Act on moral/religious education. Highlights the role of reason in resolving autonomy/authority conflicts in religious education.…