Making schools work for the economy : education discourse and policies from David Cameron to Theresa May

International audienceSince the 1970s, a globalised discourse on education has emphasised the link between high levels of education and skills and success in the ‘knowledge economy’. Education policies in the UK, as in other major economies, have become more closely aligned with objectives of economic growth and increased competitiveness. This article looks at the ways in which these global trends have been played out in England since the election of a Conservative-led Coalition government in 2010. A rhetoric of crisis, unfolding in a context of austerity, has justified the need for reforms of the school system and of further education. Two main developments are analysed here: the establishment of a cost-effective school system, and the central role assigned to improved post-16 technical and vocational provision in the pursuit of both economic growth and social mobility. The article discusses the social implications of the reforms, especially as regards Theresa May’s commitment to social justice and social mobility. It concludes on their political implications, as the UK prepares to leave the European Union and diverging education discourses and policies in the four nations present a new challenge