Reframing Education Failure and Aspiration: The Rise of the Meritocracy

By Shaun Best

Education is considered central to social mobility and, following a drive to raise learners' aspirations, an 'aspiration industry' has emerged.

However, the desire to leave school early should not be regarded as evidence of students lacking ambition. This book traces the emergence of the aspiration industry and argues that to have ambitions that do not require qualifications is different, but not wrong.

Reviewing the performance of six schools in England, their Ofsted reports and responses, it evaluates underpinning assumptions of what makes an effective school. This book critically examines neo-liberal education policy developments, including the 1988 Education Reform Act, and the political discourse around changing explanations of education 'failure' with the rise in the marketisation of education.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1447374975
• ISBN13: 9781447374978
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Policy Press
• Length: 240 Pages