Planning v competition in education: outcomes and efficiency

Governments have a responsibility to secure the best return on their investments in services. This being the case, the institutions that are involved in organising the supply of these services are a topic of interest and concern. In the case of educational services in Wales, particular concern surrounds the performance of school pupils as measured by international tests, in which the recent record has been disappointing. This paper examines this record and evaluates reform measures that have been put in place. The remainder of the paper is structured as follows. In the next section, I look at some data that allows comparison of educational outcomes in Wales and England. This is followed by a broader discussion about the system of education. The final section draws together the main ideas of the paper in a conclusion.