The English education system.
The UK economy.
Both struck by the same ideology.
Both in need of reform.
And for the same reason.
Behind the curated stats, behind PISA scores & GDP, more & more people are being left behind.
Something is wired into both systems.
Inequality.
🧵
The UK economy.
Both struck by the same ideology.
Both in need of reform.
And for the same reason.
Behind the curated stats, behind PISA scores & GDP, more & more people are being left behind.
Something is wired into both systems.
Inequality.
🧵
The UK economy is said to be the world's 6th largest, yet there's 15m people living in poverty.
English schools claim improved PISA scores in maths, reading, science, yet have rising exclusions, suspensions, absences & school dissatisfaction.
How is this all possible?
⬇️
English schools claim improved PISA scores in maths, reading, science, yet have rising exclusions, suspensions, absences & school dissatisfaction.
How is this all possible?
⬇️
This isn't a bug of the system.
It's a feature.
In the UK economy, the tax burden on high-earners has steadily reduced, billionaire wealth has soared, while public services & welfare state have been slashed by austerity.
These aren't separate actions, but part of one thing.
⬇️
It's a feature.
In the UK economy, the tax burden on high-earners has steadily reduced, billionaire wealth has soared, while public services & welfare state have been slashed by austerity.
These aren't separate actions, but part of one thing.
⬇️
Education reforms have seen a similar outcome.
Overall exam results mask a growing unhappiness with school, soaring absences, and rising crises for the most vulnerable pupils.
This is worsened by rigid punitive school cultures and a curriculum which overwhelms too many kids.
⬇️
Overall exam results mask a growing unhappiness with school, soaring absences, and rising crises for the most vulnerable pupils.
This is worsened by rigid punitive school cultures and a curriculum which overwhelms too many kids.
⬇️
Both the economy and the education system are affected by the same ideology.
It's a political belief which favours a small benign govt, market freedom, deregulation & privatisation.
In society, it values strength & power over community & compassion.
Neoliberalism.
⬇️
It's a political belief which favours a small benign govt, market freedom, deregulation & privatisation.
In society, it values strength & power over community & compassion.
Neoliberalism.
⬇️
How does neoliberalism affect the population?
The most powerful & advantaged increase their power & advantage.
Others might find success *if* they can prevail & comply within a rigid & gruelling system.
And the weakest, most vulnerable? This system isn't really for them.
⬇️
The most powerful & advantaged increase their power & advantage.
Others might find success *if* they can prevail & comply within a rigid & gruelling system.
And the weakest, most vulnerable? This system isn't really for them.
⬇️
Neoliberalism's approach to the vulnerable is well-known.
Support structures have been eroded, leaving ever more people isolated.
But rather than recognise the effects, the system encourages us to find ways to accommodate this cheaper, harsher reality.
⬇️
Support structures have been eroded, leaving ever more people isolated.
But rather than recognise the effects, the system encourages us to find ways to accommodate this cheaper, harsher reality.
⬇️
https://x.com/AdamHighcliffe/status/1850997174382764320?t=_CY7Jpm-Pp-CpxeTg7A_HA&s=19
In a neoliberal economy, the state steps ever further away from its responsibilities for people, leaving public services to be run by under-regulated corporations.
In an education system, the same thing happens.
Here, the corporations are called Multi-Academy Trusts.
⬇️
In an education system, the same thing happens.
Here, the corporations are called Multi-Academy Trusts.
⬇️
The largest MATs each control dozens of schools.
They're also known for soaring exec pay levels.
Harris Federation paid its CEO over £500k pa, whilst cutting dozens of jobs, attracting complaints from hundreds of teachers, and sitting on £21m in reserves.
How very corporate.
⬇️
They're also known for soaring exec pay levels.
Harris Federation paid its CEO over £500k pa, whilst cutting dozens of jobs, attracting complaints from hundreds of teachers, and sitting on £21m in reserves.
How very corporate.
⬇️
MATs attract similar headlines & complaints to the corporations that run Britain's water, energy, rail.
Exec pay, working conditions, inequalities.
Perhaps it's time to use the language we apply to other corporate behemoths.
What we're looking at is Big MAT.
⬇️
Exec pay, working conditions, inequalities.
Perhaps it's time to use the language we apply to other corporate behemoths.
What we're looking at is Big MAT.
⬇️
The message under neoliberalism is sink or swim.
It encourages one-size-fits-all approaches to everything from taxation to education.
It exploits quack theories to undermine hard-won rights.
And it deploys the language of euphemism to justify divisions & demonise victims.
⬇️
It encourages one-size-fits-all approaches to everything from taxation to education.
It exploits quack theories to undermine hard-won rights.
And it deploys the language of euphemism to justify divisions & demonise victims.
⬇️
Ultimately neoliberalism fails society, because it widens inequality.
Its stated aim is to reduce costs, but in the long run these policies always cost more.
That doesn’t bother its fans. The point is to preserve privilege.
And there it succeeds very well.
Its stated aim is to reduce costs, but in the long run these policies always cost more.
That doesn’t bother its fans. The point is to preserve privilege.
And there it succeeds very well.
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