A NEW ORTHODOXY, OLD PROBLEMS - POST-16 REFORMS

The paper explores the emerging consensus around post-compulsory educa tion and training. It argues the notion of settlement needs to be deve loped to incorporate concepts of race and gender. It suggests a settle ment is developing amongst the major political parties, and other cons tituents who have a stake in post-compulsory education and training. T hese constituents share a common analysis of the problem facing educat ion and training. Whilst these different groups have varying strategie s to address the problem these are held under the sway of a capitalist logic. Post-Fordist arguments celebrate the progressive possibilities that inhere in a high skill, high trust economy; however, such optimi sm is easily co-opted and colonised by capitalist interests.