Education

Question 1

Sociological theories of the role of education

Answer 1

This section of the revision guide will focus on the functions of education.
What is the education trying to do? Why do we have it?
Later sections will focus on whether or not the system is achieving those aims.
We need to know what each of the three major sociological perspectives see as the functions of education.

Question 2

Functionalist views of the role of education

Answer 2

Functionalist believe that education serves the needs of SOCIETY. According to functionalist, all functions that the education system carried out benefits society as a whole.
If education does not carry out these functions then it will be a failed institution. This then makes society
dysfunctional.

Question 3

What did Durkheim say?

Answer 3

Durkheim states the following functions of education:

Education facilitates social mobility. This means that a person can change their social class in their lifetime because of education.

Education transmits and reinforce the norms and values of the wider society.

Education creates social cohesion. This is the sense of belonging to a community.

Question 4

What did Parsons say?

Answer 4

Parsons states the following functions of education:

Education operates on meritocracy. This is a system by which you are rewarded for working hard. If you work hard, you will succeed, and if you do not work hard, you will not succeed.

Education performs role allocation: sorting people into the roles that they will perform in society.

Education teaches achieved status. You will gain your position through your effort.
For example, you will have to work hard to become the captain of a sports team.

Question 5

REVISION TIP

Answer 5

How could you evaluate (critic) this idea? Use other perspectives!

Question 6

Marxist views of the role of education

Answer 6

Marxists believe that education serves the needs of capitalism.

Question 7

Bowles and Gintis

Answer 7

Bowles and Gintis argued that schools exist to teach young people how to be good, obedient workers later. They called this theory the correspondence theory.
This meant that schools mirror a capitalist workplace.

They argued that the hidden curriculum teaches students to not question authority, to practise a working schedule (through timetabled routine) and to not think critically.
This creates the best workers later, which benefits the capitalist employers.

Question 8

Feminist views of the role of education

Answer 8

Feminist believe that education serves the needs of patriarchy.
Patriarchy is male dominates (men dominating women). Feminist believe that education reinforces patriarchy.

Question 9

Boy’s domination of space

Answer 9

Becky Francis argues that boys dominate the classroom as they get more attention from teachers.
Therefore, they get more pupil-teach interaction than
girls.
She also found that boys also dominate the playing areas by taking most of the space.
E.g. with football

Question 10

Gendering of subjects

Answer 10

Certain subjects are thought of or presented as more suitable for one gender.
For example, food tech for girls and physics for boys.

Question 11

Men in top positions

Answer 11

Men are more likely to get to the top positions in teaching.
Although there are a lot more female secondary school teachers, there are still more male head
teachers than female head teachers.

Question 12

The hidden curriculum

Answer 12

The hidden curriculum passes on gender messages, ensuring that boys and girls act the way they are expected to.

Question 13

Types of schools

Answer 13

Academy
State school
Private/independent
Specialist school
Special school
Grammar school
Free school
Faith school

Question 14

Processes inside schools

Answer 14

Each process will have 2/3 flashcards

Question 15

Labelling- Description

Answer 15

When a teacher gives a student a label

E.g. “Trouble maker’’ or “clever’’

Question 16

Labelling- Impact on student achievement

Answer 16

Teachers labels are very powerful and can impact:
student grades, parent reports, deciding the set of
a student.

Question 17

Labelling- Sociologist attached

Answer 17

David Hargreaves found that teachers based their
labels on a students; ability, appearance, social class and behaviour.
Middle class students were more likely to be labelled as ‘clever’ than working class students.

Question 18

Self-fulfilling prophecy- Description

Answer 18

When a student lives up to a label that a teacher gives

them.

Question 19

Self-fulfilling prophecy- Impact on student achievement

Answer 19

If a teacher labels a student negatively, they might
become that negative label.

If they begin to act like their label, it can have a
negative impact on their achievement.

Same goes for a positive label.

This process doesn’t have a sociologist attached.

Question 20

Hidden curriculum- Description

Answer 20

The norms and values which are taught within

schools.

Question 21

Hidden curriculum- Impact on student achievement

Answer 21

If students are not taught those norms and values
well within school then they may not value achievement or working hard which will impact their
achievement.

This process doesn’t have a sociologist attached.

Question 22

Streaming, Setting and banding- Description

Answer 22

Ways of placing students in classes based on their

ability.

Question 23

Streaming, Setting and banding- Impact on student achievement

Answer 23

If a student is put into a lower set/band/stream it can impact their confidence and perhaps lead to lower
achievement.

Question 24

Streaming, Setting and banding- Sociologist attached

Answer 24

Working class students are more likely to be placed in
lower sets in school.
(Stephen Ball)

Question 25

Teacher expectations- Description

Answer 25

Teachers have different expectations for different

students.

Question 26

Teacher expectations- Impact on student achievement

Answer 26

If a teacher has low expectations of a student then this will affect them and how they see themselves and their ability.

Question 27

Teacher expectations- Sociologist attached

Answer 27

Stephen Ball found that teachers had higher expectations (academic and behaviour) of students in
top bands/sets.
Therefore, those students worked more hard.

Question 28

Anti-school sub-cultures- Description

Answer 28

Groups of students who go against the school norms

and values.

Question 29

Anti-school sub-cultures- Impact on student achievement

Answer 29

If a student is in anti-school subculture than it can

impact their achievement in a negative manner.

Question 30

Anti-school sub-cultures- Sociologists attached

Answer 30

Paul Willis carried out study on 12 working class lads
who developed an anti-school subculture because they did not see themselves succeeding in education.

Therefore they just messed about in school.

Question 31

Factors affecting educational achievement

Answer 31

Factors affecting educational achievement

Question 32

Social class

Answer 32

The first factor is social class. 
How does social class affect student’s achievement?
The following flashcards will explain how different aspects of social class affects a student.