Two new books on social class

Reviewed by Patrick Ainley for Marx & Philosophy Review of Books http://marxandphilosophy.org.uk/reviewofbooks/reviews/2015/2127  Erik Olin Wright (2015) Understanding Class. London: Verso. 260 pages. £14.99 pbk. ISBN: 978-1-78168-945-5 Mike Savage (2015) Social Class in the 21st Century. London: Penguin Random House. 449 pages. £6.29 pbk. ISBN: 978-0-241-00422-7 Contradictory class locations? Erik Olin Wright is a US sociologist … Continue reading Two new books on social class →

Morgan instructs schools to promote apprenticeships.

Following Ofsted Chief Michael Wilshaw’s criticism of ‘one size fits all’ academic learning,   Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has criticised state schools for ‘outdated snobbery’ and promised a new law that ensures they promote technical education and apprenticeships as real  alternatives to university. Morgan told the Independent: ‘For many young people going to university will be … Continue reading Morgan instructs schools to promote apprenticeships. →

Academic education for some. Vocational courses for the others. Wilshaw’s answer to ‘One size fits all’

In a widely reported speech to  the think-tank Centre Forum,  Ofsted chief Michael Wilshaw has slammed the  ‘One-size-fits-all’ emphasis on traditional academic subjects by secondary schools, declaring that this ‘will never deliver the range of success that their youngsters need’ https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/ambitions-for-education-sir-michael-wilshaw   Wilshaw is not promoting a more student friendly type of learning though, far from it … Continue reading Academic education for some. Vocational courses for the others. Wilshaw’s answer to ‘One size fits all’ →

Apprenticeships. Channel 4 puts the boot in

Some three years after  the BBC's  Panorama  dramatically exposed the misuse of apprenticeship funding by the supermarket chain Morrison; this week’s Channel 4 Dispatches provided further disturbing evidence of how young people continue to be short changed, but also public money misspent, despite government reassurances that the reintroduction of apprenticeships has been a resounding success. … Continue reading Apprenticeships. Channel 4 puts the boot in →

Osborne’s Spending Review. An apprenticeship levy and a ‘truce’ with austerity?

George Osborne’s decision to impose an apprenticeship levy on large firms represents a significant change in policy. In Germany and other European countries, employers are required to make a significant cost towards the cost of apprenticeship and skills training. Under Osborne’s scheme, employers with an annual wage bill of more than £3 million will have … Continue reading Osborne’s Spending Review. An apprenticeship levy and a ‘truce’ with austerity? →

Is there a skills crisis?  Do schools and colleges contribute to it?

  Despite performance levels in education being higher than ever, some continue to bang on about skills shortages and about young people not being ‘ready for work’. According to the British Chamber of Commerce for example, two-thirds of businesses believe that secondary schools are not effective in preparing young people for employment and could do … Continue reading Is there a skills crisis?  Do schools and colleges contribute to it? →

Low-level apprenticeships reflect Britain’s ‘coffee shop’ economy

Blog Post for Reclaiming Schools *network                                                                           Ofsted’s hard hitting report on the quality of apprenticeship provision, confirms what is … Continue reading Low-level apprenticeships reflect Britain’s ‘coffee shop’ economy →

Now Apprenticeships failed by Ofsted

Skills Minister Nick Boles  might be  correct to claim that more people than ever are now currently on apprenticeships, but  the  government’s  own  data published last week   shows it  will struggle to create the 3 million (high quality) new apprenticeships promised by  the end of the Parliament. It’s true that the last academic year … Continue reading Now Apprenticeships failed by Ofsted →

Labour and the Fiscal Charter    ( ‘Living within our means’ Part 2)

Predictably, in the run up to the Parliamentary vote on the Fiscal Charter,   media attention focused on the fall-out from John McDonnell’s sudden   ‘U-turn’ and the way Labour MPs opposed to the Corbyn leadership sought to exploit the situation. Much of the confusion has arisen from the Shadow Chancellor’s attempt to ‘out Osborne, Osborne’ (his own words) arguing … Continue reading Labour and the Fiscal Charter    ( ‘Living within our means’ Part 2) →