Criticisms of Marketisation of Education Flashcards
Myth of Parentocracy
Ball et al
Parents encouraged to see themselves as consumers of education, good parenting seen as taking on responsibilities of school choice
But follows pattern of social class difference, contributes to reproduction of class inequalities.
Myth of Parentocracy
Tough and Brooks
Better educated middle class families more likely to make choice based on school performance
Working class likely to choose based on proximity + attendance of friends’ children
Myth of Parentocracy
Covert Selection
Not all parents have freedom to exercise choice, some high performing schools use covert selection, deliberately dissuade poorer parents from applying
‘Not for the likes of them’
Myth of Parentocracy
Machin and Vernoit
Coalition gov’s new style academies significantly more advantaged than average secondary school, lower proportion of pupils eligble for FSM, likely to reinforce advantage and make worse existing inequalities in schooling
Myth of Parentocracy
Why M/C Better at Choice
Higher levels of income, education, social + cultural capital- know how to work the system to get schools they want
Better placed to shop around, use league tables, Ofsted reports, can afford houses in catchment, know how appeals work etc
Education system socially selective
Educational Triage
More resources/time to brighter students, or those on C/D borderline- likely to achieve EBacc
House of Commons Education Committee- suggested intro of EBacc would lead to risk of schools ‘simply ignore their less academically successful pupil’- likely w/c
2012- less time allocated to non EBacc
Difficulties in Improving Schools and Colleges
Competition between schools/colleges for students/money, hard for poor schools to improve
Popular schools get money, develop facilities + employ experienced and qualified teachers, so maintain + improve, but less successful lose income, so can’t improve
PP not enough to encourage high performing schools attract poorer students
Dumbing Down
Need to retain students + money means school may not push them too hard- ‘dumbing down’ of subject content
If too much or too difficult work- may choose another institution
Problems with NC and Testing
Doesn’t give teachers opportunity to respond to needs of pupils
Testing criticised, especially KS1, too much pressure + concept of failure
Too focued on testing, not wider curriculum
Problems with NC and Testing
Diminishing Importance
Free schools + academies exempt from NC, diminishing significance
But makes it harder to ensure stable curriculum
Reduced Quality Control
Ofsted not as independent as needed- vulnerable to politician manipulation
2014- Birmingham, alleged Islamic extremist take over, Ofsted changed criteria, schools (prev. outstanding) became inadequate
Chaos in the Education System
Reduced Regulation
Pre-marketisation, education regulated by local authorities, now lack of regulation + checks and balances reduced
Parents unclear who schools answer to
Chaos in the Education System
Scandal + Reform
2013-14: Financial corruption, fears of Islamist takeover
2014: Recognition of lack of accountability, reforms inc. proposals for regional school commissioners, more inspections of academy chains, new oversight of school governors
Chaos in the Education System
Planning
Loss of control of planning- free schools where not needed
