1988 Education reform act Flashcards
1
Q
1988 Education reform act
A
- Conservative government, Thatcher, influenced by new right ideas
- National curriculum, SATs, League tables, Formular funding, Local management of schools
- This approach is often described as marketisation
2
Q
National curriculum
A
- All state schools were taught the same topics at the same time in the same subjects. It never apllied to private schools.
3
Q
Reasons the national curriculum was introduced
A
- Made it easier to compare schools using standardised tests.
- Took control away from local educational authorities
- Practical benefits- made it easier to move between schools.
4
Q
SATs
A
- All students were learning the same curriculum that could be tested with a national test at the same time. This meant that fair comparisons could be made.
- The tests then provide essential information for parents when they’re published in school league tables. (Created parentocracy)
5
Q
League tables
A
- A list of schools in order of performance so that parents could make an informed choice about what schools they wanted their kids to go to.
- Prior school places were based entirely on catchment areas.
- This was intended to create parentocracy; the idea that parents were in charge of the education system.
6
Q
Formular funding
A
- Schools were funded on a basis of how many pupils they attract.
- Gave schools incentives to perform well and be placed highly on league tables to attract customers. (parents)
- Led to competition between schools (positive development for new right) in order to attract parents.
7
Q
Local management of schools
A
- Head teachers got to look after school budget, rather than it being a responsibility of the local authority.
- Further cemented marketization (as it was the head’s responsibility to ensure school ran efficiently)
- Power away from local authorities which the government distrusted.
8
Q
OFSTED
A
- Developed from the logic of the 1988 education reform act
- Gave parents greater choice which facilitated parentocracy as they can now read OFSTED reports.
9
Q
Positive evaluations of 1988 education reform act
A
- Many of the principles of the 1988 have remained in place today suggesting those measures were effective.
10
Q
Criticisms of the national curriculum
A
- Teachers were critical that it was too restrictive.
- Overtime this has significantly changed and there is more flexibility in it.
- This does make it harder to standardize although English and Maths teaching remains quite proscriptive.
11
Q
Criticisms of SATS
A
- Pupils were being put under too much pressure with regular testing.
- Concerns that pupils were simply being taught the tests which meant that a lot of broader education was missed.
12
Q
Criticisms of league tables
A
- Put pressure on schools to get best SATs results, potentially at the expense of other aspects of education.
- High positions on league tables might just show that the school happened to have high achieving pupils. In more recent times league tables are produced relating to ‘value added’.
- Eg. Selective grammar schools are more likely to appear higher up the league tables.
13
Q
Myth of parentocracy
A
- Reform act creates an illusion of choice.
- Most popular schools will be oversubscribed, assumes parents can send their child to a school on the other side of the country and some schools have entry requirements which limits choice.
14
Q
Catchment areas
A
- Schools higher up league tables lead more expensive houses in those areas therefore the rich could afford for houses around the best performing schools
15
Q
How has the reforms put increased pressure on members?
A
Pupils, teachers and educational managers now have pressure to turn the schools’ focus from educational matters to being efficient and attractive to potential parents.
