They Knew Not Whither They Travelled: A Tour d’ Horizon

Abstract

In the race for higher standards, the United Kingdom is overhauling its education system. Reform in Scotland and Wales is concentrated on the curriculum and assessment, in Northern Ireland and England on organization. Northern Ireland wrestles with centralism, England promotes a social market with centralism. But whither have we come? Herein is an account of that journey since the 1944 Education Act’s epic enactment, much from personal experience, telling of achievement and error, and concludes with a positive solution. The narrative focuses upon the spirit of partnership that informed that legislation and the case for some intermediary body between institution and state. The boundaries of responsibility between parents, churches, private interests, business, institutions, central, and local government are increasingly obscure. At risk is the belief that education is a birthright, not a commodity. In prospect are over-regulation, greater inequality and unaccountability, financial waste and continuing under-performance. In this collection of essays, six educationists, argue that principle and organization matter, and examine how localism and more centralist approaches have contributed to success and failure.