Education Flashcards
FORMAL EDUCATION
Learning particular subjects e.g., Maths, History in organised institutions (schools)
INFORMAL EDUCATION
Occurs by observing what goes on about us, through experiences of life
FUNCTIONALISTS
Argue that the functions of institutions such as education is to reproduce culture by socialising individuals into the key values and roles required for social stability
AGENT OF SOCIAL CONTROL
Individual or group that is responsible for ensuring members of society conform to socially acceptable behaviour
SOCIAL MOBILITY
Movement of individuals up or down a social scale
SOCIAL COHESION
“Sticking together”. It describes the integration of a society into a unified whole
MERITOCRACY
A social system in which rewards are allocated justly on the basis of merit rather than factors such as class, gender, ethnicity
DE-SCHOOLING
The idea that schools should be abolished because the compulsory nature of schools hinders the learning process
NATIONAL CURRICULUM
Subjects and subject content that must be studied by all children in state schools, in an attempt to standardise educational provision
OFSTED
(Office for Standards in Education) the government agency given the task of monitoring the quality of schools and teachers in the UK
SATs
Standard Assessment Tests. Assessment method used at the end of each key stage of education
GCSE
General Certificate in Secondary Education. National exams taken at the age of 16
DIPLOMA
Qualification for 14-19 year olds. Introduced as a pilot in 2008. Up to 10 subjects to choose from
LEAGUE TABLES
Lists produced by the government indicating the position of each school in comparison to others depending on their exam performance.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS 5-11 YEARS
This is the first level of education in the UK. They are generally mixed-sex, and usually located close to the child’s home. Children tend to be with the same group throughout the day and one teacher has responsibility for most of their work
SECONDARY SCHOOLS 11-16 YEARS
Most children transfer at the age of 11 to secondary school. Most cater for both sexes. Pupils are taught the national curriculum subjects, normally by specialist teachers
VOCATIONAL
Describes a course or qualification designed to provide more of a “hands on” approach to learning. This encourages the application of knowledge and understanding of a subject in a practical way
LABELLING
Names/labels given to individuals by teachers (and by others e.g., policemen) which then influence the behaviour of those individuals and also influence the way others respond to those individuals
SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY
People hear labels about themselves from people who are more powerful than they are. They come to believe these labels are true and then act as if they are true. Therefore, the labels become true
SETTING
A way of dividing pupils into groups for particular subjects based on their ability in those subjects
STREAMING
A way of dividing pupils according to their supposed ability
ANTI-SCHOOL SUB-CULTURE
These are formed because pupils feel that they are not valued by the school or because they do not identify with the value system or goals of the school
MIXED ABILITY
Pupils of all ability levels are taught as one group
CULTURAL CAPITAL
The desired skills, for example, language which the middle classes pass on to their children
UCAS
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. The organisation responsible for the allocation and administration of university and college places
CRISIS OF MASCULINITY
The idea that men’s perception of what a man is and how he ought to behave has been undermined by social and economic changes
BREADWINNER
The person in the household who is the main income earner
ETHNOCENTRIC CURRICULUM
Schools are structured in a particular way including such aspects as school assemblies, history and language which reflects the culture of the majority
TRIPARTITE SYSTEM
Three types of secondary school for different types of pupil based on an IQ (Intelligence quotient) test at 11
ELEVEN PLUS
A type of intelligence test taken at age 11 to determine whether a child should attend a grammer school, a technical school or a secondary modern
NEW VOCATIONALISM
Training aimed to equip the young with the skills and education required by a rapidly changing economy
MARKETISATION OF EDUCATION
Changes to education in the late 1980s, so that it became more business like.
EXCELLENCE IN CITIES (EiC)
EiC programme, launched in March 1999, made a unique contribution to the raising of attainment of disadvantaged children in our most deprived cities, towns and rural areas
EDUCATION ACTION ZONES (EAZ)
Are built around groups of schools that are determined to raise educational standards in the most challenging areas in the UK
EDUCATIONAL MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE (EMA)
Money paid directly to students who stay on in education after the age of 16. The amount received depends on parents’ income
