Martin Allen & Patrick Ainley on the politics of 'teacherism' ‘Teacherism’ has dominated education politics since the post-war period. It continues to be significant now but its influence is waning. The post-war education reforms enhanced the professional status of what had previously been a largely female occupation so that teachers’ professional project achieved its goal … Continue reading The rise and fall of Teacherism
Alternatives for tertiary learning
In a contribution for the Council for the Defence of British Universities, Patrick Ainley reviews an essay collection aiming to rethink the purpose of tertiary level learning. The Centre for Labour and Social Studies (CLASS) is a think tank connected to the trades unions combining ‘grassroots voices with intellectually compelling analysis…to ensure policy is on … Continue reading Alternatives for tertiary learning
BTECs facing the axe?
The government has asked for views on withdrawing public funding from qualifications for 16 to 19-year-olds that overlap with either A-levels or the new T-levels. Promoted as a progressive policy, it could have severe implications for the BTEC courses long established in sixth forms and colleges. More than 200,000 16 to 18-year-olds study BTEC courses … Continue reading BTECs facing the axe?
Review of Post -18 Education and Funding. First impressions
The Augar report on post-18 learning has been long awaited. The first government sponsored review of higher education since Robbins, it’s two hundred or so pages were published in the week the Prime Minister who commissioned it resigned and as universities start to wind down, or at least lose their students for the summer. Perhaps … Continue reading Review of Post -18 Education and Funding. First impressions
Low Pay Britain
Published earlier this week, the Resolution Foundation's Low Pay Britain charts the success of the Minimum Wage (now officially called the National Living Wage) in reducing inequality at the bottom of the labour market. A record two million workers - 7.3 per cent, now depend on the legal minimum wage, covering around 1.6 million jobs. … Continue reading Low Pay Britain
Will young people be voting on Thursday?
Traditional relationships between class and voting behaviour are not what they used to be. This week’s Euro-election will, it seems, only confirm this, with Labour desperately trying to unite ‘pro-Brexit’ traditional northern working-class supporters with recent converts – the more affluent socially progressive but staunchly pro-European voters of London and the south. Despite the excessive … Continue reading Will young people be voting on Thursday?
Labour’s £10 minimum wage for under 18s could be part of a real ‘new deal’ for young people.
Jeremy Corbyn’s commitment to include under 18s in Labour’s £10 an hour minimum wage is to be welcomed. As the Labour leader made clear “Equal pay for equal work” is hardly a controversial idea. Under Labour, the hourly pay of workers aged 16 and 17 would more than double. At present, workers under the age … Continue reading Labour’s £10 minimum wage for under 18s could be part of a real ‘new deal’ for young people.
Can you ever be ‘overeducated’?
New ONS data shows a third of graduates with more education that is required for the work they were doing 2017. This shouldn’t surprise anybody. Many other studies have reached similar conclusions. What is significant is that rather than focusing on those that have left university in the last few months (many of whom will … Continue reading Can you ever be ‘overeducated’?
Forward to the 4 day week?
The decision by science charity Wellcome not to go ahead with its plan to trial a 4-day week for 800 head office staff because it would be too 'operationally complex', goes against the evidence ( including a major New Zealand study) that 4-day working, without a loss of pay improves productivity, staff motivation, not to … Continue reading Forward to the 4 day week?
One in twelve jobs at ‘high risk’ from automation
Way back in the 1930s, the economist Keynes raised concerns about what he called ‘technological unemployment’ now referred to as ‘worker displacement’. According to Frey and Osborne’s 2013 Oxford study, as many as 47% of current US jobs are at risk of automation, while a 2016 OECD study estimated the figure at just 9%. The … Continue reading One in twelve jobs at ‘high risk’ from automation
Education, Economy and Society 