Movers and Shakers: high politics and the origins of the National Curriculum

ABSTRACT

This paper provides a narrative account of politics surrounding the introduction of the National Curriculum to English and Welsh schools, and in particular the struggles between leading politicians, ministries, government agencies and Her Majesty's Inspectorate. The paper argues that Secretary of State Kenneth Baker's victory over Prime Ministerial advisers led to an over‐complex and unmanageable framework which in a few years led to an unprecedented alliance of opposing interest groups and the conditions for a major government climbdown.

KEYWORDS:

• English National Curriculum
• educational policy
• interest groups