For the first time since OFSTED inspections started in 1993 the number of failing schools in special measures has started to fall. Currently 400 schools are in special measures because OFSTED have found that they are failing to provide an acceptable standard of education. This is about 2% of the total of primary and secondary schools.

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Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has given the go-ahead for seven New Deal for Communities partnerships to start developing long-term strategies to regenerate deprived neighbourhoods, not larger than 4000 households. The issues that the strategies must address include limited job opportunities, crime, vandalism, educational under attainment and poor health. This brings the total number of approved partnerships to seventeen and they will share in the 800m pound budget over the next three years. More partnerships will be set up in further rounds.

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By Mark Exworthy and Susan Halford

A key aspect of change in the 1980s and 1990s has been the emergence of a ‘new managerialism’. It has been seen to pose a significant threat to the traditional dominance of professionalism and professionals. The book explores the relationship between managerialism and professionals by using in-depth studies from education, social work and medicine. It shows that in practice the relationship is characterised by a range of outcomes, from conflict to patterns of compromise and collaboration. It challenges assumptions about the distinctiveness of managerialism and professionals.

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