The missing stratum

In 1990 the Financial Times noted that "the absence of a tier of technical schools is the single biggest failure of British post-war educational policy". Starting with the creation of early technical schools before the First World War and finishing with John Patten's new policies in 1993 this book examines the development of the technical school sector and the factors which have weakened it and led to its demise. It argues that the neglect of technical schools has resulted in the poor levels of British skill formation and industrial performance especially since World War II. The book contributes powerfully to the "decline of the British economy" debate and will thus be of considerable interest both to economic and educational historians.