Sally Tomlinson – författare

"This book must become the classic text for students of education, social and welfare policies. Sally Tomlinson, doyenne of policy-orientated education and social research, has written with commendable clarity and comprehensiveness a superb book on British education." – Journal of Social Policy

“This book provides a context for understanding education policy which is currently missing from education and social policy courses. It should be compulsory reading." – Len Barton, Institute of Education, University of London

"The persistence and reinforcement of class advantage through English education policy is a key theme... this book does a superb job of both highlighting the key social justice concerns and controversies over the last fifty years and providing an overview of education policy developments over the same period." – British Journal of Sociology of Education

Highly commended - S.E.S Book Prize 2002

The acclaimed first edition of Education in a Post-Welfare Society provided a critical overview of education policy since 1945. It demonstrated how a relatively decentralised education system became a system in which funding, teaching and curriculum are centrally controlled and privatisation encouraged, with education becoming a prop for global market economy rather than a pillar of the welfare state.

The second edition continues the policy story up to 2005, covering two terms of a New Labour government and their plans for a third term. It also continues an examination of the relationship of education policy to social class, race, gender and the economy, paying attention to the educational disadvantages of some ethnic groups and refugee children. The book includes chronologies of education acts, reports and initiatives and summaries of major legislation.

This is an invaluable resource for all those concerned with social policy and education, including educational researchers, professionals and politicians.

“This book must become the classic text for students of education, social and welfare policies. Sally Tomlinson, doyenne of policy-orientated education and social research, has written with commendable clarity and comprehensiveness a superb book on British education.” – Journal of Social Policy

“This book provides a context for understanding education policy which is currently missing from education and social policy courses. It should be compulsory reading.” – Len Barton, Institute of Education, University of London

“The persistence and reinforcement of class advantage through English education policy is a key theme… this book does a superb job of both highlighting the key social justice concerns and controversies over the last fifty years and providing an overview of education policy developments over the same period.” – British Journal of Sociology of Education

Highly commended – S.E.S Book Prize 2002

The acclaimed first edition of Education in a Post-Welfare Society provided a critical overview of education policy since 1945. It demonstrated how a relatively decentralised education system became a system in which funding, teaching and curriculum are centrally controlled and privatisation encouraged, with education becoming a prop for global market economy rather than a pillar of the welfare state.

The second edition continues the policy story up to 2005, covering two terms of a New Labour government and their plans for a third term. It also continues an examination of the relationship of education policy to social class, race, gender and the economy, paying attention to the educational disadvantages of some ethnic groups and refugee children. The book includes chronologies of education acts, reports and initiatives and summaries of major legislation.

This is an invaluable resource for all those concerned with social policy and education, including educational researchers, professionals and politicians.

First published in 1981. Based on a three-year study of children moving into special ESN-M education in an English city in the mid-1970s, this book questions the whole concept of mild educational subnormality by examining the criteria according to which professionals make decisions to place children within this stigmatised category. It suggests that the beliefs that the professionals hold about the behavioural, family and class characteristics of the children help to determine their judgements, and that these beliefs are related to their own position within the social structure.

First published in 1981. Based on a three-year study of children moving into special ESN-M education in an English city in the mid-1970s, this book questions the whole concept of mild educational subnormality by examining the criteria according to which professionals make decisions to place children within this stigmatised category. It suggests that the beliefs that the professionals hold about the behavioural, family and class characteristics of the children help to determine their judgements, and that these beliefs are related to their own position within the social structure.

Colonial Immigrants in a British City (1979) analyses the relationship between West Indian and Asian immigrants and the class structure of a British city. Based on a four-year research project in the Handsworth area of Birmingham, the book is a study of race and community relations – political, social, economic and personal – in a major centre of immigrant settlement. It considers the relationship between housing class and class formations and consciousness in other sectors of allocation, such as employment and education. It includes a consideration of the changing political climate on race relations between 1950 and 1976.

Colonial Immigrants in a British City (1979) analyses the relationship between West Indian and Asian immigrants and the class structure of a British city. Based on a four-year research project in the Handsworth area of Birmingham, the book is a study of race and community relations – political, social, economic and personal – in a major centre of immigrant settlement. It considers the relationship between housing class and class formations and consciousness in other sectors of allocation, such as employment and education. It includes a consideration of the changing political climate on race relations between 1950 and 1976.

School effectiveness research together with what is now described as the ''school improvement movement'' (Barber, 1996) has captured both the Conservative and New Labour imaginations as a basis for educational planning and policy making in the UK. Internationally school effectiveness enjoys and expanding and enthusiastic audience.This book provides a critique of this research genre, particularly in the light of the recent calls for teaching to go ''back to the basics''. The editors argue that this school effectiveness research is simplistic in its analysis of educational problems. Far from getting to the bottom of the problem of failing students and schools, they argue, these ''movements'' are merely scratching at the surface of the problems and coming up with notions for superficial improvements.

School effectiveness research together with what is now described as the ''school improvement movement'' (Barber, 1996) has captured both the Conservative and New Labour imaginations as a basis for educational planning and policy making in the UK. Internationally school effectiveness enjoys and expanding and enthusiastic audience.This book provides a critique of this research genre, particularly in the light of the recent calls for teaching to go ''back to the basics''. The editors argue that this school effectiveness research is simplistic in its analysis of educational problems. Far from getting to the bottom of the problem of failing students and schools, they argue, these ''movements'' are merely scratching at the surface of the problems and coming up with notions for superficial improvements.

What happens to young people who are defined as lower attainers or having learning difficulties in a global knowledge economy?

How do we stop those with learning difficulties or disabilities being seen as social problems or simply as consumers of resources?

Governments in developed countries are driven by the belief that in a global economy all citizens should be economically productive, yet they are still not clear about the relationship between the education of low attainers and the labour market. Ignorant Yobs?: Low Attainers in a Global Knowledge Economy examines this international phenomenon, exploring how those with learning difficulties are treated in a world economy where even low-skilled jobs require qualifications.

This unique book provides an examination of countries which converge on the issue of the low attaining population, despite differing on political, economic and cultural dimensions. In doing so, it considers some thorny issues at the forefront of education policy and provision:

Written by an internationally renowned scholar, Ignorant Yobs?: Low Attainers in a Global Knowledge Economy synthesises a range of complex, highly topical issues and suggests how those with learning difficulties might, with government and employer support, contribute to a flexible labour market. This book, using original discussions in England, the USA, Germany, Malta and Finland, will be of interest to a wide audience of policy-makers, practitioners, administrators, and politicians, in addition to undergraduate, postgraduate and research students and academics.

What happens to young people who are defined as lower attainers or having learning difficulties in a global knowledge economy?

How do we stop those with learning difficulties or disabilities being seen as social problems or simply as consumers of resources?

Governments in developed countries are driven by the belief that in a global economy all citizens should be economically productive, yet they are still not clear about the relationship between the education of low attainers and the labour market. Ignorant Yobs?: Low Attainers in a Global Knowledge Economy examines this international phenomenon, exploring how those with learning difficulties are treated in a world economy where even low-skilled jobs require qualifications.

This unique book provides an examination of countries which converge on the issue of the low attaining population, despite differing on political, economic and cultural dimensions. In doing so, it considers some thorny issues at the forefront of education policy and provision:

Written by an internationally renowned scholar, Ignorant Yobs?: Low Attainers in a Global Knowledge Economy synthesises a range of complex, highly topical issues and suggests how those with learning difficulties might, with government and employer support, contribute to a flexible labour market. This book, using original discussions in England, the USA, Germany, Malta and Finland, will be of interest to a wide audience of policy-makers, practitioners, administrators, and politicians, in addition to undergraduate, postgraduate and research students and academics.

At the time of original publication, special education in Britain was permeated by an ideology of benevolent humanitarianism and this is ostensibly the moral framework within which the professionals – teachers, educational psychologists, medical officers – operate. The author widens the debate about special education by introducing sociological perspectives and considering the structural relationships that are produced both within the system and in the wider society when part of a mass education system develops separately, as ‘special’ rather than normal. She outlines the origin and development of special education, stressing the conflicts involved and the role played by vested interests, and criticizes the current rhetoric of ‘special needs’. Among the issues and dilemmas that she identifies, the problems of selection, assessment, integration and the curriculum for special schools are discussed in details, and the position of parents, pupils and teachers within the system is examined. The author gives particular attention in a separate chapter to the problems and position of ethnic minorities.

At the time of original publication, special education in Britain was permeated by an ideology of benevolent humanitarianism and this is ostensibly the moral framework within which the professionals – teachers, educational psychologists, medical officers – operate. The author widens the debate about special education by introducing sociological perspectives and considering the structural relationships that are produced both within the system and in the wider society when part of a mass education system develops separately, as ‘special’ rather than normal. She outlines the origin and development of special education, stressing the conflicts involved and the role played by vested interests, and criticizes the current rhetoric of ‘special needs’. Among the issues and dilemmas that she identifies, the problems of selection, assessment, integration and the curriculum for special schools are discussed in details, and the position of parents, pupils and teachers within the system is examined. The author gives particular attention in a separate chapter to the problems and position of ethnic minorities.

Until this book was published, most writing on special education was about specific disabilities and how to cope with them. This book, however, considers the broader context, looking at many problems for the wider system that have arisen through integration of special education within it. The book is international and comparative in its focus and includes much North American material and work by North American researchers.

Until this book was published, most writing on special education was about specific disabilities and how to cope with them. This book, however, considers the broader context, looking at many problems for the wider system that have arisen through integration of special education within it. The book is international and comparative in its focus and includes much North American material and work by North American researchers.