coalition government

Question 1

when was the coalition government in power

Answer 1

2010-15

conservative and liberal democratic parties

Question 2

aim

Answer 2

encourage excellence, competition and innovation by freeing schools from the hand of the state

Question 3

key policies

Answer 3

austerity - cutting public funding - fell by 15% - cutting EMA and replaced by £180 bursary scheme that was given directly to schools

increasing academies - made it possible for any school to convert to academy - 7000 - 2/3rds of secondary schools are now open or academies

Question 4

free schools

Answer 4

funded same way as academies - central government
set up by parents, charities, trusts ct

easier to set up schools - don’t need to consult local authorities

all-ability schools - can’t use academic selection processes

Question 5

free school advantages

Answer 5

allow for a broader and more balanced curriculum

cost effective way of creating new schools with enough money left over to maintain existing schools

31% of free schools rated as outstanding compared to national average of 22% - ofsted

Question 6

free school disadvantages

Answer 6

Rebecca Allen - Sweden - 20% of schools are free schools - only benefit children from highly educated families - socially divisive and lower standards

free schools take fewer disadvantaged pupils - 2011 - 6.4% of pupils at Bristol free school eligible for FSM compared to 22.5% of Bristol as a whole

Question 7

pupil premium

Answer 7

2011 - additional funding for those on FSM
£900 per year per pupil

supposed to spend money on resources that will help the student eg school trips and uniforms

Question 8

pupil premium limitations

Answer 8

ofsted did research in 2012 and ofund many cases were not spent on those it is supposed to help
- 1 in 10 headteachers said it changed how they supported disadvantaged pupils

becker - labelling - interactionism

Question 9

strengths of coalition government

Answer 9

introduced policies aimed to reduce inequalities in education system - pupil premium and FSM for all students years 1 and 2

free schools - more choice

cuts to education mean better value for money - claim

standards risen

Question 10

limitation of coalition government

Answer 10

austerity measures - 60% cuts on school buildings, sure start centres closed - EMA abolished, tripled university tuition fees to 9000 a year

reduced opportunities for working class pupils