Post-compulsory education: Issues for 16-18-year-olds

This chapter explores a number of issues surrounding post-compulsory education and training and, to contextualize the discussion, the competitiveness settlement is explored. The argument that education should play a significant role in developing the skills and knowledge required by the economy is critically examined. This sits alongside a discussion of the way in which the economy is currently conceived, as well an exploration of New Labour's interest in modernizing the economy, and developing a society characterized by social inclusion, cohesion and justice. This analysis leads to a discussion of the 16–19 curriculum in relation to the vocational/academic divide, Key Skills and progressive curricular forms. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the limits and possibilities for ...