ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with equality and disadvantage. It looks at the challenges, both economic and political, for entry to training, faced by young people in England who presently aspire to join the teaching profession. The focus is on two objectives of the current Coalition Government: the raising of quality standards in education and teaching, and the increase in equality of access and achievement across all sectors of the population. These, together with policies and legislation being implemented to achieve them, are discussed along with the likely impact on the young people’s aspirations. It can be argued that the two objectives, if achievable, are circular and interdependent, one feeding on and contributing to the other. The contradictions between and within the stated objectives and measures applied are explored against understandings of the place of education in a market driven politico-economic system.
