Because they know that only an (ever decreasing) minority will vote for them, the Tories have never tried to seriously engage with young voters. The Tories have published two major policy initiatives, a reintroduced National Service and a plan to replace ‘Micky Mouse’ degrees with more apprenticeships. But these have been aimed at their ageing … Continue reading Starmer promises to extend the franchise: but will young people vote at all?
Author: Martin Allen
‘End Micky Mouse degrees. Create 100,000 apprenticeships instead’ (Sunak’s latest election gimmick)
As far back as 2015, in the wake of Tony Blair and New Labour’s push to make university attendance the norm for school leavers, David Cameron’s promised 300,000 more apprenticeships as an alternative . The Tories have been rattling on about this ever since, without much idea of what it really means. Let alone how … Continue reading ‘End Micky Mouse degrees. Create 100,000 apprenticeships instead’ (Sunak’s latest election gimmick)
No repeat of ‘education, education, education’ under a Starmer government
There’ll be no repeat of Tony Blair’s ‘education, education, education’ by a Starmer government. For Blair and Gordon Brown ‘education’ became a key economic policy. Getting ‘qualified’ would, it was argued, sharpen people’s ability to take advantage of opportunities in the new global economy, whereas those who didn’t would be left behind. In other words, … Continue reading No repeat of ‘education, education, education’ under a Starmer government
Labour comes after the NEETs
Kendall: 'no option of a life on benefits' According to the shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall, under a Labour government there would be “no option of a life on benefits”. Labour’s is targeting the NEETs, (young people Not in Education, Employment or Training’). Figures announced at the end of February show the percentage … Continue reading Labour comes after the NEETs
Young people and wellbeing : does education damage your health?
Despite the economy being in ‘technical’ recession (though this is increasingly expected to be ‘mild’) the labour market continues to boom. With the jobless rate at under 4%, some Tories are pointing to ‘full-employment’ – a term used to describe the prosperous years of the post-war period. Indeed, labour shortages have pushed up wage levels … Continue reading Young people and wellbeing : does education damage your health?
The post-war educational project comes off the rails (version 2 and policy critique)
Rab Butler - instigator? 2024 marks the eightieth anniversary of the momentous 1944 Butler Act, considered a triumph for progressive reform. Though times may have changed, post-war assumptions about education remain. First, that for economic growth to continue and to keep pace with other countries, there is a need for greater levels of ‘human capital’ … Continue reading The post-war educational project comes off the rails (version 2 and policy critique)
Eighty years on, the post-war education project has come off the rails.
2024 is just around the corner. It will mark the eightieth anniversary of the momentous 1944 Butler Act, considered a ‘triumph for progressive reform’. Yet, even though times have changed, in many respects education continues to operate around the social and economic assumptions growing out of the post-war reconstruction. 'One Nation Tory' Rab Butler First … Continue reading Eighty years on, the post-war education project has come off the rails.
‘Work or we’ll cut your benefits’ Hunt seeks to rebuild the ‘reserve army’.
'Work or we'll cut your benefits' Compared to many others, the UK economy is labour intensive and low-skill. In recent years the limited amount of growth that has been achieved has come by adding to the labour force, rather than increasing productivity through investment in technology. Hunt’s Autumn Statement will do little to change this. … Continue reading ‘Work or we’ll cut your benefits’ Hunt seeks to rebuild the ‘reserve army’.
Dave might be back…. but what’s happened to his apprenticeship promises?
As the sitting Prime Minister, David Cameron put a promise to create another 3 million high quality apprenticeships for young people at the centre of his 2015 election campaign. Yet apprenticeships have provided few alternatives to continuing to higher education for young people – key to Cameron’s intentions. In fact apprenticeship starts had already peaked … Continue reading Dave might be back…. but what’s happened to his apprenticeship promises?
The Department for Education gives a thumbs down to AI.
While prime minister Sunak was snuggling up to the tech giants in a pretence about AI security, the Department for Education had already published bland guidelines about some of the implications for education. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/generative-artificial-intelligence-in-education While accepting that AI is an important tool: Generative AI tools are good at quickly: analysing, structuring, and writing text turning … Continue reading The Department for Education gives a thumbs down to AI.
Education, Economy and Society 