ABSTRACT
The idea that education exists to develop individual autonomy is a very old one. Traditionally the arguments rested on an appeal to fundamental rights, but in recent years it has been argued, from both ends of the political spectrum, that there are new economic and social reasons for promoting autonomy in individuals. A number of recent policy initiatives have some bearing on this issue, including moves to describe the outcomes of learning more explicitly, which has been presented as a means of extending individual autonomy by giving individuals more informed choice about the management of their lives and learning.
