Public Sector Reform: Principles for improving the education system: 30 (Bedford Way Papers, 30) - Softcover

Coffield, Frank; Steer, Richard; Allen, Rebecca; Vignoles, Anna; Moss, Gemma; Vincent, Carol

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0854737731 ISBN 13: 9780854737734

Publisher: Institute of Education, 2007

Synopsis

For ten years the UK government sought to improve public services through a combination of increased investment and a ‘tough’ regime of top-down performance management. The programme was driven by national targets, regulation, standard setting, performance assessment and direct intervention where services were found to be failing. However, the government has had to admit the limitations of this approach. It has now signalled a major change of direction, introducing a new model of reform that seeks to balance top-down measures with pressures from below (greater user choice and voice) and horizontal pressures (market incentives and improving the capability and capacity of the workforce). Public Sector Reform offers a critical appraisal of this new model, which the authors argue is not well supported by research evidence. They suggest an alternative approach for education, based upon a set of principles for improving the quality of learning. They argue for a realistic programme which would balance reform and maintenance; moderate change and sustainability; central and local direction; teacher empowerment and professional accountability. In all, teaching and learning must be at the heart of the system.

About this title

About the Author

At the time of publication, Frank Coffield was Professor of Education at the Institute of Education, University of London, having previously worked in the Universities of Newcastle, Durham and Keele. Earlier, he taught in a comprehensive school, an approved school and Jordanhill College of Education in Scotland. He was Director of the ESRC’s research programme into The Learning Society from 1994 to 2000, and edited four reports and two volumes of findings from the programme.

Edition details

• Publisher: Institute of Education
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0854737731
• ISBN 13: 9780854737734
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 85