More policies, greater inclusion? Exploring the contradictions of New Labour inclusive education policy

Roulstone, Alan and Prideaux, Simon (2008) More policies, greater inclusion? Exploring the contradictions of New Labour inclusive education policy. International Studies in Sociology of Education, 18 (1). pp. 15-29. ISSN 0962-0214

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Abstract

The era of New Labour government has witnessed unprecedented growth in inclusive education policies. There is, however, limited evidence that policies have increased disabled children’s inclusion. This article explores reasons for this contradiction. Drawing on sociological insights, it is argued that New Labour policies on inclusive education take their cues from wider neo-liberal constructions of social exclusion; ideas that point to the personal deficits of the excluded rather than social barriers and inequalities that systematically exclude. Increasingly narrow definitions of educational success are likely to add to this exclusion. This mirrors New Labour’s broader social inclusion agenda in emphasising ‘conditional’ inclusion and an increasingly utilitarian approach to social policy. New Labour, it is argued, needs to review the lessons of history in reducing disabled children’s educational exclusion if real progress is to be made. Warnock’s recent attack on the principle of inclusive education makes this review all the more urgent.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Labour Party, Great Britain, inclusive education
Subjects:	L300 Sociology X900 Others in Education
Department:	Faculties > Arts, Design and Social Sciences > Social Sciences
Depositing User:	EPrint Services
Date Deposited:	07 Oct 2010 11:11
Last Modified:	31 Jul 2021 08:38
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/137

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