THE RIGHT TRACK - TEACHER-TRAINING AND THE NEW RIGHT - CHANGE AND REVIEW

The importance of education within the New Right philosophy has been w ell analysed and documented. The attempt to cut costs, the pursuit of efficiency, improving standards along with greater parental choice and participation are some of the stated policy directions. This article seeks an analysis of the New Right philosophies that have so influence d the Conservatives' direction within initial teacher training, having a major impact on recent initiatives. In doing so it will take three directions: (a) it will offer an understanding of the New Right philos ophies; (b) it will examine changes, past, present and future within s chool teacher education; and (c) it will place these within a wider fr amework of the New Right philosophies and strategies. In particular it will look at why traditional methods have been criticised. The articl e argues that policy within teacher training must not be seen in isola tion, for it is related to wider educational issues and social policy arenas, in particular to the development of a 'quasi-market'.