Summer 2007: The Education Issue PDF Print E-mail

The Education IssueAfter ten years of Labour government, can Gordon Brown fix education? This summer's education issue of the Fabian Review sees interviews with the new Education Secretaries, Ed Balls and John Denham, plus agenda-setting pieces from Tom Hampson, David Blunkett, Louise Bamfield, and Fiona Millar. Read the Fabian Essay on social mobility by John Van Reenen and Stephen Machin.

This issue is linked to the Fabian Society's Debate on Life Chances and Equality

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The Education issue highlights

A new choice agenda

Tom Hampson argues that rather than obsessively focusing on giving parents more choice, we must focus on widening the choices for young people. This, he argues, must mean Ed Balls taking a look at private schools.

The Fabian interview

Sunder Katwala talks to Ed Balls and John Denham.

Brown's tests for success

Louise Bamfield sets out how we can measure whether the new team is living up to its education promises.

Admitting fault

The intellectual case for keeping selection has been lost. But many think real change is impossible. It can be done, says Fiona Millar.

Making the grades

Gordon Brown knows that giving up powers can restore trust. So, asks Professor Alan Smithers, why not have an independent exam watchdog?

The Fabian Essay

Read the full text of the Fabian Essay here: why schools are the best tools for targeting social mobility.

Britain has by far the worst levels of social mobility in Europe. As the Brown Government seeks out new ways to target the problem, Professor John Van Reenen and Professor Stephen Machin show how they can crack it.

More than one chance

Adult education and skills are the secret tools for tackling inequality, says David Blunkett. The new team must not forget lifelong learning.

Learning to live together

Schools cannot only be about grades - they are also where we learn to live together. Debbie Weekes-Bernard says cohesion plans will fail if they are not locally-based.

Safer schools

As the Government continues to put considerable effort into developing healthy school cultures, sometimes, says Greg Rosen, the most basic safety of pupils gets forgotten.

BOOKS: Delivering the future

Policy, politics and personalities: Peter Riddell looks at Michael Barber's memoirs of the Blair Government in search of the former Prime Minister's real legacy.

BOOKS: The secret Brownite

Sunder Katwala reveals the real message of Alastair Campbell's diaries.

BOOKS: Past imperfect

David Mathieson reviews Giles Tremlett's book 'Ghosts of Spain'.

Fabian members received this issue as part of their membership package. Why not join and receive the Fabian Review for free?

Summer 2007: The Education Issue is available for £4.95, plus £1 p+p.

Telephone the Fabian Society bookshop on 020 7227 4900, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or send a cheque payable to 'the Fabian Society' to 11 Dartmouth Street, London, SW1H 9BN.

 

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