CHAPTER OVERVIEW

The political context, then, is a major element in any scheme or system of education, and one without
reference to which such a schenme or system can not be properly understood (2009 187) The history of
the development of any education system illustrates competing views as to the purposes of education
and how these are best met These views are very much linked to how individuals would like to see their
society develop (see Chapter 2 for a discussion of ideology in education). As education has to be paid for
and may aftect the quality of a future workforce, any system also has to be seen in relation to the
economy. We will now look at what political policy is and how education policy derives from this we will
then consider political ideologies and how these link to beliefs about education. This will help frame our
analysis of the substantive part of the chapter- the development of the modern education system from
Thatcherite govemment through to the current Conservative administration of today.