The Thatcherite project in education: the case of the City Technology Colleges

Abstract

Despite the broad coherence of the Thatcherite Project, it contains a central contradiction of which the CTCs are emblematic. The contradiction is described as 'conservative modernisation' - associated with economic liberalisation and social controle Examing the CTCs under four headings: choice, selection, control and content it is concluded that they have failed, in their aim to attract private funding, are unpopular with almost all educational forces outside govemment, and offer very little that is different from current secondary education.