School wars

The battle for Britain’s education

Melissa Benn, Verso, 256 pages, paperback, £12.99

As teachers plan to join the TUC day of action later this month in what is likely to involve thousands of public servants, this new book is a timely addition to the sharp debate taking place over the future of education in Britain.

From the poorest comprehensives to the most well-resourced independent schools, Melissa Benn takes a forensic look at the inequalities of our current system, the damaging impact of spending cuts, the rise of “free schools” and the growth of the private sector in education.

Benn also explores the dangerous example of US education reform, where privatisation and the rise of charter schools have intensified social, economic and ethnic divisions.

The policies of recent British governments have been muddled and confused, but one thing is clear: that the relentless application of market principles signals a fundamental shift from the notion of quality education as a public good, to education as market-controlled commodity.

Benn ends by outlining key principles for restoring strong educational values within a fair, non-selective public education system.

Reviews contributed by the Bookmarks socialist bookshop. Order online at www.bookmarksbookshop.co.uk