The Reopening of the GCSE ‘Settlement’: recent developments in the politics of school examinations

Abstract In this paper, the authors review various criticisms of their published work on the sociology of school examinations at 16‐plus and consider how far the subsequent development and implementation of the GCSE examination necessitates a revision of their early position. Using a case study of integrated humanities, they argue that the more recent developments reflect an attempt to reopen the 'settlement' that their earlier work had described and to reach a new 'compromise'. They then consider the broader economic and political context in which these developments have taken place, paying particular attention to the changing nature of the political right under Thatcherism. In conclusion, they suggest that their earlier characterisation of the politics of school examinations in terms of struggles between old humanists, industrial trainers, public educators and state bureaucrats requires some refinement if it is to remain useful in the current context. *A previous version of this paper was first presented at the International Sociology of Education Conference at Westhill College, Birmingham, in January 1988. Notes *A previous version of this paper was first presented at the International Sociology of Education Conference at Westhill College, Birmingham, in January 1988.