Education

Question 1

Evaluate the impact of globalisation on educational policy in the UK [(10) international ranking]

Answer 1

One way in which globalisation has influenced educational policy in the UK is through the creation of international rankings.
🚩Ranking systems, such as the PISA tests, enable education systems to compare the performance of their students in maths, English and science against students globally. This is like the introduction of league tables in the UK. Governments can easily compare the performance of their own students against those of other countries and this enables them to quantitatively examine the impacts of teaching, learning and assessment strategies as well as government educational policies.
🚩 This enables them to pick the strategies that they believe will have the biggest impact on students in the UK and implement those strategies. An example of this is the proposal by then Education Secretary Michael Gove to extend the school day to mirror the longer hours in east Asian countries like South Korea and Singapore in order to improve student outcomes.
🚩However, many critics would suggest that ‘cherry picking’ policies from a nation that is performing well has a limited impact unless other social policies are implemented to compliment the educational policy. For example, Scandinavian countries with more socially democratic ideals tend to perform well but rely upon an expanded welfare state and a more collectivist mentality than is present in the UK with neo- liberal ideologies and policies that target individuals. This limits the impact of globalisation in achieving positive outcomes.🚩

Question 2

Evaluate the impact of globalisation on educational policy in the UK [(10) increase in the choice of schools]

Answer 2

A second influence of globalisation on educational policy in the UK is the increase in the choice of different schools. 
Most notably, the concept of academies comes from the US Charter School system, 🚩 whilst Free Schools are influenced by the Swedish Education System. 🚩 Government educational policy is influenced by the performance of other nations education systems and at the time of selection, both options had evidence of improving outcomes and student experience. 🚩
Charter schools also fit in with the ideology of the Blair and Brown government by allowing private investment into education. This was expanded further under the Cameron and Clegg government of 2010-2015 with proposals under the subsequent Conservative government to academize all secondary schools in the UK. 🚩
This was heavily influenced by global economic policy of neo-liberalism, reducing state spending 🚩and allowing market forces to dictate the education market. 🚩
However, while many applauded the introduction of city centre academies as tackling social inequality in areas of deprivation, the results of wide scale academisation have been less successful. Recent investigations into the running of multi-trust academies have shown the impacts of corruption, under-staffing and poor outcomes for students. 🚩Furthermore, Free Schools have predominantly benefitted the middle-classes in the UK as they have been set up by wealthy individuals and groups of middle-class parents, 🚩 demonstrating that the influence of globalisation is primarily for those with more power and influence.

Question 3

Evaluate the imapct of globalisation on education policies in the UK [(10) british values]

Answer 3

A final influence of globalisation on educational policy has been the creation of British Values and PREVENT.
🚩 British Values is compulsory in all educational establishments to promote ideas of tolerance, the rule of law and democracy. 🚩PREVENT is a legal requirement for educational institutions to report what they perceive to be the threat of child exploitation, grooming or radicalisation. 🚩
Both policies were introduced as a response to the increasing threat of terrorism that occurred in the era of globalisation. The threat of terrorism is seen to be motivated by anti-globalisation feelings and a desire to retain traditional ideals of nations.🚩
Because of this backlash against globalisation, the Government introduced these policies in education to act as a deterrent against radicalisation and to reinforce the ideas of a global Britain, 🚩in a similar fashion as promoting social solidarity. 🚩
However, it can be argued that the impacts of both British Values and PREVENT have been controversial, with some universities challenging it on the grounds of academic freedom and others refusing to police their students. 🚩
Furthermore, it could be argued that it could lead to stereotyping certain ethnic groups within the education system and contribute to negative experiences, bullying and racism within schools.🚩