Education Flashcards
What was the tripartite education established by the 1944 Education Act?
- Grammar Schools for the academically able
- Technical Schools for the technically able
- Secondary Modern Schools for everyone else.
(In practice the technical schools never really took off and the system became a two tier structure of grammars and secondary moderns.)
What did the tier system start to become in the 60s and 70s?
The Comprehensive System, where pupils of all abilities were taught together.
Who has been responsible for running schools and providing some democratic oversight through elected councillors since 1902?
Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
(Originally LEAs were the county councils. They still are in two-tier authorities. Unitary authorities, like Sheffield, are also LEAs.)
Which two things did the 1988 Conservative Education Reform Act establish that took some power away from LEAs?
Grant Maintained Schools that could opt out of local authority control, and the National Curriculum
What did the Labour government introduced in 2000 and how do they operate?
City Academies, established in partnership with private companies using PPP/PFI schemes and specialising in particular subjects like languages, sport or sciences, usually targeted at struggling schools in deprived areas.
They managed their own admissions and could select 10% of pupils by aptitude
What did the 2010 Coalition government do in relation to academies?
They further expanded the academy scheme with the 2010 Academies Act.
In which 5 main ways are academies different to other schools?
- They employ their own staff
- They set their own term and school times
- They do not have to follow the National Curriculum
- They cannot charge fees
- They are automatically classed as charities and therefore enjoy tax breaks
How are Academies often run?
In conjunction with private companies and charities
What did Michael Gove impose in relation to failing schools?
That they had to become academies
What other type of school was also established by the 2010 Academies Act?
Free schools
Which 4 things do academies and free schools have in common?
- They are state schools
- Funded by the taxpayer
- Are not allowed to charge fees to parents
- Are independent of the LEA
What is the main difference between Free Schools and Academies?
Free Schools are started from scratch, whereas Academies are existing schools. Free schools cannot be selective.
What are the two main types of academy schools?
- Sponsored academies—these have sponsors such as businesses, universities, other schools, faith groups or voluntary groups. Mostly previously underperforming schools turned into academies to improve performance.
- Converter academies—these don’t have sponsors, and were previously assessed as performing well.
What is a MAT and what does it do?
A multi academy trusts (MATs) formed to run schools in certain areas
What does Ofsted stand for and what is its overall function?
The Office of Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) is charged with regulating standards in state schools
