Education in Britain

This insightful book explores the fragmentation of education in Britain since 1944, detailing the evolving landscape across its four nations.

In the years following 1944, Britain experienced a unified educational framework across its four nations. However, by 2015, this framework had significantly diverged, leading to distinct patterns of schooling and higher education in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England. The new edition of Education in Britain delves into this fragmentation, providing insights into the various arguments and conflicts that have emerged throughout this evolution.

Ken Jones takes readers on a comprehensive journey, examining the scope of education from primary schools to universities, while also addressing the cultural, political, and economic factors at play. He evaluates the successes and limitations of the post-war educational reforms and reflects on the egalitarian goals that characterized the 1960s and 1970s. The book highlights the transformative impact of the Thatcherite policies of the 1980s and the subsequent New Labour governments, which inherited these changes.

As Jones transitions into the twenty-first century, he scrutinizes the educational ramifications of devolution and austerity measures. This thorough exploration makes Education in Britain a unique resource, paying particular attention to the growing diversity in the educational landscape. With its accessible style, this book serves as an essential reference for students and educators in educational studies, teacher training, and sociology.