Coalition government policies from 2010.

Question 1

What did the conservative-Liberal democrat government do from 2010? What perspective were their ideas largely influenced by?

Answer 1

• Freed schools from the state through policies such as academies and free schools
• Making cuts on the education budget to reduce state spending
• Moved away from comprehensive schools
• Based on New Right

Question 2

Summarise what happened to education in relation to academies from 2010.
What was different about these policies compared to Labour’s original city academies?

Answer 2

• Schools were encouraged to become academies who were given control over their curriculum.
• Funding taken from local authority was given to academies.
• By 2012 over half of secondary schools were academies.
• It didn’t focus on improving inequality.

Question 3

Summarise what free schools are and what they achieve/don’t.

Answer 3

• They are funded by the state and run by parents, teachers and faith organisations.
• Supporters say that they improve standards by giving power to parents and to set up a school they are happy with.
• However, In England they take fewer disadvantaged pupils as at Bristol free school only 6% of pupils were eligible for free school meals compared with 23% of pupils in the city.

Question 4

Ball argues that academies and free schools have increased fragmentation and centralisation of control over educational provision in England. Explain what these two terms refer to.

Answer 4

Fragmentation: The comprehensive system is being replaced by a patchwork of diverse provision with much of it involving private providers which leads to greater inequality in opportunities.

Centralisation of control: Central government has the power to allow or require schools to become academies or allow free schools to be set up. These schools are funded directly by central government. Their rapid growth has greatly reduced the role of elected local authorities in education.

Question 5

Which policies did the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition introduce to reduce inequality?

Answer 5

Free school meals for all children in reception, year one and two.
The pupil premium- Money that schools receive for each pupil from a disadvantaged background.