Brief historical survey: the need to recognise old wine in new bottles—the structural roots of voluntarism and difference in the English schooling system

Abstract

The end of the ‘bog standard’ and ‘one size fits all’, as part of the British government's education policy, has been emphatically declared. In its place, diversity and difference in terms of specialisms and sponsors have been stressed. However, such diversity has always been a part of the English schooling system in the form of the voluntary sector. It is only comparatively recently that the role of the voluntary sector has once again come under scrutiny but its influence in terms of organisational structures has been an inherent part of the development of the schools within the dual system of English schooling.

Keywords:

• Voluntary sector
• Schools
• Reforms
• Diversification

Notes

* Southlands College, Roehampton University, London, SW15 5SL. UK. Email: [email protected]

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Marilyn Holness*

* Southlands College, Roehampton University, London, SW15 5SL. UK. Email: [email protected]