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.