Education and policy Flashcards
When were Comprehensive schools introduced?
1965
When were Academies introduced and under what government?
2002
New Labour
What are Free schools and when were they introduced?
Funded by state but could be set up like businesses
Choice: own curriculum
2010 - Coalition government
What are Academies?
-Publicly funded independent schools.
-Don’t have to follow national curriculum.
Get money directly from the government.
-Can have sponsors which help to improve performance of school.
What are the 3 different schools established as a result of the 1944 Education Act, Tripartite System?
Grammar schools: academic education, had to pass 11+ (IQ test) to get in.
(Better school, free, just had to pass test.)
Secondary modern school: less academic than grammar, more emphasis on vocational/ practical subjects.
Technical school: emphasis on technical, vocational skills.
What are some criticisms of the tripartite system?
- The 11+ didn’t truly measure ability, and children were too young for ability to truly be shown
- Different types of schools were not regarded as having equal status
- Fewer places were provided for girls that boys in grammar schools
What did the introduction of comprehensive schools intend to do?
- Break down class divisions- ensuring all were educated
2. Create more equal opportunities
Evaluation of comprehensives?
- Lowered standards by undermining grammar schools
- most able did not get stretched
- Comprehensives had poor discipline, which made progress problematic
- Less successful than grammar schools
Why were Neoliberals in favour of the marketisation of education?
It created a market in education (like market for products in private business)
What were the schooling reforms to the 1988 Education Reform Act?
- Formula funding and open enrolment
- National curriculum
- Testing and attainment targets
- Introduction of league tables and regular published inspections
- Introduction of new types of school
What was formula funding and open enrolment?
aims and criticisms too
- Schools could enrol as many pupils as they wanted.
- School admissions weren’t controlled by local education authorities (LEA’s)
Created competition to drive up standards
Popular schools were oversubscribed Schools in middle-class tended to be better working
What was the national curriculum?
aims and criticisms too
-Government stipulates most of curriculum content
Ensures basic skills are consistently taught, provides common basis for measuring progress
Restricted choice of subjects
Cultural bias in lack of content
What was testing and attainment targets?
aims and criticisms too
-Performance testing introduced at 7, 11, 14 and 16
Provides information at all levels of school education
Amount of testing seen to be too excessive
What was league tables?
aims and criticisms too
- Regularly published inspections
- Introduced to judge performance of school
Parents can make rational decisions
Schools can attract more able pupils
Tables limited range of outcomes
What was the introduction of new types of schools?
aims and criticisms too
- Existing schools became funded directly by government
- City technology colleges, partly funded by private sector
Provided more choice and greater variety
Mainly benefited the middle class
What was the 2010-15 Coalition government?
Coalition government was formed after 2010 election.
Made up of Conservatives with support of Liberal Democrats.
What was special about the 1997 New Labour party?
Neither left wing nor right wing approach, mixed policies from both sides of the spectrum.
What did the left wing policies of the New Labour aim to produce?
Aim to produce greater equality of opportunity
Social democrats
What did the right wing policies of the New Labour aim to produce?
Aim to raise standards, competition and choice within education
(New Right)
What were the left wing New Labour policies?
Excellence in cities Sure start Academies EMA (further education expansion) Expansion of Higher Education
Excellence in cities?
(New Labour policy)
SUMMARY, AIMS, EVALUATION
Extra resources provided for education in disadvantaged inner-city areas (e.g. learning mentors)
To improve results for disadvantages children
Did not consider material deprivation
Sure start?
(New Labour policy)
SUMMARY, AIMS, EVALUATION
Provided extra help for pre-school children in deprived areas (e.g. play centres)
Create more equal opportunity, intervening early
Parental engagement was very low
Academies?
(New Labour policy)
SUMMARY, AIMS, EVALUATION
New schools partly sponsored by businesses
(set up to replace failing comprehensives)
Ensured no child was educated in a very ineffective school
Businesses didn’t understand schools and communities they were working in
EMA (Education maintenance allowance?
(New Labour Policy)
SUMMARY, AIMS, EVALUATION
EMA’s provided payments for education after school
EMA’s- reduced drop-out rate
High rates to qualify
Not enough to make a difference
