From new right to new deal: nationalism, globalisation and the regulation of teacher professionalism

Abstract

Economic rationalist arguments continue to be used to justify educational reforms. Within such a paradigm, this paper argues that the educational reforms of the New Right were based on neo-Fordist principles, establishing a low wage – low skill economy; polarising the workforce and exacerbating social inequality. By continuing Tory policies, Labour's New Deal has so far failed to make the transformations necessary to creation of a post-Fordist, high wage, high skill magnet economy advocated by left modernisers. Flexible, highly skilled workers are not produced by a rigid education system, delivered by teachers whose professionalism is dysfunctionally over-regulated by prescriptive national qualification structures. National curricula do not prepare learners adequately for the competitive international knowledge market. The logic of Labour's own economic rationalism suggests more decision-making devolved to teachers, not less. We need to transcend the limitations of national regulating bodies such as the Teacher Training Agency to achieve a more internationalised professionalism. The status of teachers in the global market for skilled knowledge workers is a key factor in ensuring the supply of motivated and effective professionals