Geography of the 'New' Education Market

Book excerpt: This title was first published in 2000. A series of major reforms during the 1980s and 1990s have led to the transformation of the Education System in England and Wales. The new system is now based on market principles in schooling resources. Parents now have the opportunity to state a preference over the school they would like their children to attend. This fascinating book sets out the new geographies of education, focusing on the spatial organization of the new market system. Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS), it examines patterns of competition and choice based on pupil home postcodes and relates these to the decision-making process of parents. It also makes comparisons between different LEAs and schools in urban and rural areas, analyzing the constraints created by space and geography. In considering the effectiveness and impact of this new form of provision, the book plays an important role in understanding and appreciating the impact of the education market upon social mobility and community structure.