Comprehensive Schools

Question 1

Comprehensive schools

Answer 1

In 1965 the 11+ was no-longer compulsory. Catchment areas were created so all children living in the same area wouldd go to the same school

Question 2

Functionalist view of comprehensive schools

Answer 2

Supportive - comprehensives brought children of different ethnic backgrounds together promoting social solidarity and meritocracy.

Question 3

Marxist view of comprehensive schools

Answer 3

Criticism - equality of opportunity and meritocracy are ideological myths. Streams benefit MC and put WC in lower streams leading them to fewer qualifications.

Question 4

New right view of comprehensive schools

Answer 4

Criticism - inner city comprehensives suffer more truancy, indiscipline and lower quality of teaching

Question 5

Liberal feminist view

Answer 5

Supportive - comprehensives have reduced gender stereotyping and as a result girls are now exceeding boys in exam results

Question 6

Radical feminist view

Answer 6

Criticism - comprehensives are patriarchal and reproduce patriarchy in the economy by pushing girls towards stereotyped subjects and qualifications resulting in lower paid careers and status

Question 7

Catchment areas

Answer 7

People of similar social class often live in the same area therefore many schools end up with mainly WC or mainly MC students. Good schools also increase the price of local houses

Question 8

Pros to comprehensive schooling

Answer 8

• WC and MC have same opportunities
• increase of WC in higher education
• less academic students have more range of qualification

Question 9

Criticisms of comprehensive schooling

Answer 9

• comprehensives in suburban areas achieve better exam results than those in inner-city areas therefore reproducing class inequality
• some local authorities continued to use grammar school system.
• Hargreaves (1967) and Ball (1981) argued allocation of students is often based on social class and following of rules