Ball: Parental choice - Education

Question 1

Parental Choice:

Answer 1

• Ball focuses on the effects that parental choice and competition between schools has on the education system, in particular whether it leads to greater inequality.
• With the publication of examination league tables, schools want to attract ‘motivated’ parents and ‘able’ children. More resources are directed towards students who are likely to perform well in examinations.
• Middle-class parents are more likely to know how to deal with secondary school choices. Working-class parents are more likely to prefer to send their children to local schools.
• Material resources bring advantages in the market place. For example, parents with their own transport have a wider choice of schools.
• Having the right sort of cultural capital helps parents to play the market. It brings knowledge of the education system and confidence in how to work it.
• Ball argues that advantages of middle-class parents and make education less equal. Schools are now more concerned with attracting gifted and advantaged students that with helping disadvantaged ones.