Working in Post-Compulsory Education

by Lea, John; Hayes, Dennis; Armitage, Andy; Lomas, Laurie; Markless, Sharon

• ISBN13: 9780335211050
• ISBN10: 0335211054
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-01
• Publisher: Open University Press

Summary

This book looks at the issues facing teachers and trainers currently working in the field of post compulsory education including questions of vocationalism, managerialism, professionalism, accountability, and educational research. Although aimed in part at raising awareness of such issues and the contrasting views which might be held it is intended that readers will use the book to develop an active engagement with these issues. This may be achieved through reflection and evaluation within their own professional context but also through embarking on their own research projects.The book is split into three sections. The first section deals with issues raised by locating post compulsory education within a wider social, political and economic context. The second section looks at issues raised by considering post compulsory education in its organizational context. The third section looks at methodological issues connected with conducting research in post compulsory settings.The format for each section includes overviews with self-assessment exercises, followed by different authors pursuing particular lines of inquiry, finishing with suggestions for ways in which readers might engage in debate and research.

Author Biography

The authors are all based at Canterbury Christchurch University College.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
About the contributors	xi
Abbreviations	xiii
General introduction	1	(2)
PART 1 Post-compulsory education in context	3	(54)
Overview: Post-compulsory education in context	5	(28)
John Lea
Introduction	5	(1)
The new vocationalism	6	(11)
The widening participation agenda	17	(11)
Conclusion	28	(5)
Further reading	30	(1)
Part I exercises	31	(1)
Question to think about	32	(1)
In defence of vocationalism	33	(10)
Andy Armitage
The changed nexus between work and education	43	(14)
Dennis Hayes
The obsession with work	44	(3)
The know-nothing society	47	(3)
The loss of confidence in the academy	50	(1)
A knowledge revolution?	51	(1)
Knowledge and `knowledges'	52	(1)
The triumph of therapeutic education	53	(4)
PART 2 The organization of post-compulsory education	57	(56)
Overview: The organization of post-compulsory education	59	(28)
John Lea
Introduction	59	(5)
PCET cultures	64	(8)
PCET accountability	72	(10)
Conclusion	82	(5)
Further reading	85	(1)
Part 2 exercises	85	(1)
Question to think about	86	(1)
Managerialism and professionalism in post-compulsory education	87	(14)
Dennis Hayes
The legacy of Thatcher and the politics of the Third Way	88	(4)
The fearful organization in an anxious age	92	(3)
The anxious college manager	95	(1)
From managerialism to therapy	96	(3)
Towards the therapeutic college	99	(2)
Accountability and effectiveness in post-compulsory education	101	(12)
Laurie Lomas
Introduction	101	(1)
Massification	102	(1)
Performance management	103	(1)
Service quality and evaluation	104	(1)
Evaluation	105	(1)
Managerialism and professionalism	106	(5)
Conclusions	111	(2)
PART 3 Conducting research in educational settings	113	(55)
Overview: Conducting research in educational settings	115	(31)
John Lea
Introduction	115	(1)
Methodological and epistemological concerns	116	(16)
Theory	132	(9)
Conclusion	141	(5)
Further reading	144	(1)
Part 3 exercises	144	(1)
Question to think about	145	(1)
The case for action research	146	(7)
Sharon Markless
The truths about educational research	153	(15)
Dennis Hayes
There is an educational research culture in FE only in a very special sense (Truth 1)	155	(2)
Educational research is generally not valued and is often despised (Truth 2)	157	(2)
Much of what is called `educational research' today is not really research (Truth 3)	159	(5)
Real educational research requires a realist approach and methodology (Truth 4)	164	(1)
The search for truth has been abandoned (Truth 5)	165	(3)
Bibliography	168	(12)
Index	180