ABSTRACT
The main aim of this study has been to provide a geographical interpretation of the ‘new’ education market in England and Wales. It attempted this by undertaking a comparative study of the patterns and processes of competition and choice across different geographical contexts - institutional, spatial and social. As discussed in the previous Chapter, in relation to all other studies on the ‘new’ education market, this research focussed on issues of social justice, both on the process-side and the product-side of the market mechanisms. This study has raised many issues, both in developing an understanding of the geography of the ‘new’ education market and in identifying areas for future research. This final Chapter summarises the key geographical and social variations of the education market identified in the research before evaluating the quasimarket approach to education provision in England and Wales. Since this study focussed on issues of social justice rather than economic efficiency of the reforms, the conclusions also focus on issues of equity and equality. The Chapter then concludes by identifying some of the most important areas of the ‘new’ education market still in need for further research and which pose potential policy dilemmas.
