Compensatory Education and Positive Discrimination

Question 1

How Does Compensatory Education Involve Positive Discrimination?

Answer 1

Schools in disadvantaged areas are singled out for preferential treatment, such as more, and better paid teachers, and more money to spend on buildings and equipment.
Based on equality of educational opportunity.

Question 2

Education Action Zones and Excellence in Cities

Answer 2

Established in 1990s, in socially disadvantaged ares, with unemployment, poverty, poor housing + overcrowding, ill health, and lack of self confidence leading to poor performance.
Schools given extra money and teachers to compensate.

Question 3

Criticisms (Power and Whitty)

Answer 3

Some individual schools, teachers, and students benefited, but evidence suggested that reforms didn’t work. Failed to impact the achievement gap.

Question 4

Criticisms (Kerr and West)

Answer 4

Influence of schooling limited by factors beyond the school system. Children’s progress/performance can’t be separated from their lives outside school- in families, neighbourhoods, and communities.