Ideological influences on government educational policy

Conservative Ideologies

Conservative ideologies in politics often spearhead an emphasis on traditional values in education.
Under Conservative rule, there’s a strong belief in competition and marketisation of schools - examples include the introduction of leagues tables and Ofsted.
Conservative policies stress the importance of academic subjects and standards, as seen in the promotion of a ‘rigorous’ curriculum and focus on knowledge through the National Curriculum.
The Conservative “Back to Basics” campaign demonstrated the party’s commitment to discipline and moral standards in schools, emphasising traditional teaching methods and uniform regulations.

Labour Ideologies

Labour ideologies generally aim for social justice and equality of opportunity in the education system.
Under Tony Blair’s Labour government, the phrase “Education, Education, Education” embodied the party’s focus on investing heavily in education.
Labour policies such as Sure Start centres and increased spending on state education aimed to reduce educational disadvantage.
The expansion of comprehensive schools and the introduction of the EMA grant (Education Maintenance Allowance) for further education students illustrates Labour’s approach to increasing accessibility in education.

New Right Ideologies

The New Right ideology, often associated with Conservative policies, places a strong emphasis on free market and competition principles.
Policies inspired by this ideology include the creation of academies and free schools, aiming to increase parental choice and school autonomy.
The introduction of the National Curriculum can be seen as a reflection of the New Right’s focus on standards and core knowledge.
The New Right’s support of streaming and setting in education can contribute to increased educational division and inequality.

Neo-Liberal Ideologies

Neo-liberal ideologies in education typically endorse competition, marketisation and privatisation.
Educational policy driven by neo-liberal ideals fosters increased standardisation to assess performance and encourage competition.
Policies such as performance-related pay for teachers, and league tables to compare schools, reflect the neo-liberal emphasis on free-market mechanisms.
Neo-liberalism alos corresponds with the belief in reduced state intervention in education, as seen in the academies scheme allowing schools more autonomy.

Understanding the ideological underpinnings of government policy can offer deep insight into our educational structures and changes over time. More importantly, it encourages critical reflection on the potential impacts of these policies, which is key to your understanding of Sociology.