Despite fears that slower wage growth might mean the labour market is ‘cooling’, latest statistics suggest otherwise, with a general participation rate of 75% and unemployment only just above 4%. However, ‘economic inactivity’ – those not working but not looking for work – still sits at over 20%, reflecting what commentators have termed a ‘great … Continue reading More than one in seven young people are NEET.
Gordon Brown won’t save the T-levels.
Within a few days of Labour coming to office, Gordon Brown has intervened in the debate about T-levels. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/16/gordon-brown-calls-on-ministers-not-to-scrap-t-level-vocational-qualification This site has continued to document the issues that surround the Ts (see the categories menu below right). T-levels originate from a 2016 report from Lord Sainsbury and a subsequent White Paper. Since then, they have … Continue reading Gordon Brown won’t save the T-levels.
Labour and the private schools
Labour’s election manifesto contained few promises for education. Probably most eye-catching has been its plan to impose VAT on private school fees in England (and to remove the exemption from business rates). Schools don't have to pass these increases onto parents and pupils with special needs statements will be exempt. The traditional image of the … Continue reading Labour and the private schools
No money for education?
Keir Starmer’s Labour will be campaigning on the economy this week. It will continue to remind us about how the Tories abysmal economic record has bankrupted the country, quickly pointing the finger at Liz Truss, but also Sunak and Hunt’s incompetence (though saying almost nothing about the damage done by Brexit). As a result Labour … Continue reading No money for education?
Starmer promises to extend the franchise: but will young people vote at all?
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?
‘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
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 of all young people who were NEET in … 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)
Education, Economy and Society 