Education - Paper 1 Flashcards
Paper 1
What are education’s three functions that help society? (Functionalism)
- Plays a part in secondary socialisation, passing on core values
- Sifts and sorts people into appropriate jobs
- Teaches skills needed in work and by the economy
What is achieved status? (Functionalism)
A status that is achieved through hard work
What is ascribed status?
A status that is fixed by birth
What is collective conscience? (Functionalism)
A shared belief, we all think in the same way
What is social solidarity? (Functionalism)
Individuals feel like part of a community or single body
What are particularistic standards? (Functionalism)
Rules that only apply to one child (what family teaches)
What are universalistic standards? (Functionalism)
Rules that apply to all children in the school
What is role allocation? (Functionalism)
Selecting students for future work roles by assessing their skills
What did Durkheim say the two main functions of education are? (Functionalism)
- To teach social solidarity
- To teach specialist skills
How did Durkheim say the education system creates social solidarity? (Functionalism)
By socialising children into the norms and values of society (teaching them value consensus)
How does the education system create social solidarity? (Functionalism)
- Children must learn self-restraint instead of following their own impulses
- Children must fit in with patterns of behaviour adopted by others and accept discipline imposed by the school
- School plays: teamwork, socialisation, communication
- Inter-school sports: teamwork, togetherness
History and English both give a sense of shared culture e.g., British history teach what went wrong e.g., wars don’t work, enforces togetherness. English texts everyone does Shakespeare
What factors of the education system don’t create social solidarity? (Functionalism)
History - focuses on British history (ethnocentric)
MFL - Spanish, French and German are European languages perceived to be more important
British food in canteen
Christmas and Easter holidays, doesn’t count for Eid
What would Marxists claim children are taught through education? (Functionalism)
Another way for bourgeoisie to control us by socialising us with ideas that will keep them in power. Taught that there is hierarchy and will always be someone above. False class consciousness taught with idea everyone is treated fairly and it is meritocratic
How do schools teach specialist skills? (Functionalism)
Prepares pupils for wider society by teaching a wide range of qualifications from A-Levels to vocational qualifications and work experience.
Why would functionalists say that teaching specialist skills is positive? (Functionalism)
Gives individual a wide range of transferrable skills. More variety of qualifications means that more people have opportunity to get them e.g., exams aren’t some peoples strong point. This allows for a workforce to be created
What are the criticisms of Durkheim? (Functionalism)
- Marxists would criticise this concept as they believe that education is there to uphold capitalism by allowing the bourgeoisie to succeed and keeping workers poorly educated and in low paid jobs
- Suggested that Durkheim’s theory is no longer relevant in our multi-cultural society. Theory of education promoting social solidarity doesn’t highlight how faith schools teach values of a specific religion rather than whole society
What did the article on faith schools show about social solidarity? (Functionalism)
Faith schools prioritised religious indoctrination instead of the curriculum. This shows that not everyone has an equal chance confirming that meritocracy isn’t the sole reason for success
What are Davis and Moore’s key beliefs? (Functionalism)
- For society to operate efficiently, all roles must be filled and by the most able
- Some roles require considerable training, and intelligence levels
- To fill these roles, people make a sacrifice, such as time, effort and financial cost
- Schools develop human capital to ensure that each job is filled effectively
- There has to be a system of unequal rewards to motivate people to train for top positions
What are examples of roles which require specialist training? (Functionalism)
Doctor and dentist: medical school and knowledge
Lawyers: qualifying exams
How do schools identify skills? (Functionalism)
Exams show which subjects a person is best at but this doesn’t always work as some don’t work well under pressure so it isn’t an accurate representation. Not everyone is academic so thrive doing practical work but schools encourage academia
What are differential rewards?(Functionalism)
Where society offers incentives to those best able to fill positions that require making a sacrifice e.g., higher pay
What is an issue with differential rewards? (Functionalism)
Based on the idea of meritocracy that the most able get the higher paying job because it is harder but not everyone has equal access to education e.g., doctors have to go to medical school but some live in small towns so can’t afford to move away to attend a good uni. Some can afford private education/tutors. External factors show it’s unfair e.g., caring responsibilities
What was Parson’s theory?
Schools is a key socialising agency in society which acts as a bridge between the family and wider society. This is important because families and society operate on different sets of principles and children need to learn how to manage in the wider world
What are meritocratic principles? (Functionalism)
Where everyone is given an equal chance or opportunity and individuals achieve rewards through their own effort and ability
What is an example of a particularistic standard? (Functionalism)
Manners
What is an example of a universalistic standard? (Functionalism)
Don’t commit crime
Why would Marxists argue that meritocracy is a myth? (Functionalism)
If you are born into poverty you are at a disadvantage because you may not be able to afford textbooks, tutors etc. No matter how hard you work if you cannot go to uni or the majority of time is taken up by working it is harder to get out of poverty. You may also go to an underfunded school because of the area you live in
What are the criticisms of Parsons? (Functionalism)
- Evidence that social backgrounds results in students being treated differently. Social class and ethnicity may result in poorer results due to lower expectations not lower ability
- Some schools only teach values of their faith which may not be universalistic
- School rules may not always apply in wider society/ Marxists don’t believe in meritocracy
What are some general criticisms of functionalist explanations of education?
- Some argue society is no longer based on universalistic standards - race, gender, ethnicity and status effect how rules apply
- Some jobs are based on ascribed status rather than achieved - lots of politicians went to Eton
- School content has very little to do with the workplace - many workers don’t need maths for their work, school teaches a strict curriculum which prepares for next stage of education
- OFSTED expect all to make progress - schools can’t sieve out manual workers - everyone needs qualifications which is unfair for those who aren’t academic as they may not be able to progress
What is a Marxist criticisms of functionalist explanations?
This view ignores inequalities in power in society. There is no value consensus. Education convinces us that the system is fair. We are in a state of false class consciousness as your gender, ethnicity and class impact on achievement
What is a feminist criticism of functionalist explanations?
Schools pass on patriarchal values and gender inequalities. Role allocation isn’t equal as girls are limited by the glass ceiling
What are the 3 key Marxist ideas about education? (Marxism)
- Education is part of the ideological state apparatus
- Education promotes ruling class values (wealth, power and hierarchy) not common which functionalists say
- Education justifies and reproduces class inequality, doesn’t produce equality of opportunity, forms a subservient class and workforce
What does Marx say about the economic base (capitalists, RC and means of production) of capitalism? (Marxism)
It is kept strong and dominant by a superstructure of institutions (family, education, armed forces, CJS, mass media, religion and political system).
What does Marx believe about these institutions? (Marxism)
Encourage people to accept their lot in life because destiny is determined by the RC (you will work and benefit economy). Revolution is prevents by people being in a state of FCC. The education system transmits the capitalist ideology to maintain social control and dominance
What are some contemporary examples of people going against the idea of FCC? (Marxism)
Strikes - teachers, trains, NHS, postmen, cost of living
What did Louis Althusser highlight?
(Marxism)
Ordinary people wouldn’t accept unequal work conditions and pay unless something convinced them it was inevitable.
He looked at the role of education in making individuals believe the capitalist system is fair, saying education is a part of the Ideological State Apparatus which works as a microcosm of capitalist society to teach a subordinate position
What is the Ideological State Apparatus? (Marxism)
A tool to justify social inequality
What is a microcosm? (Marxism)
A mini society e.g., education
How does the Ideological State Apparatus work? (Marxism)
Through hegemony and transmitting ideology
How does the ISA produce hegemony? (Marxism)
The education system persuades the subordinate group (WC) to accept their values and beliefs
How does the ISA transmit ideology? (Marxism)
The WC are convinced by the education system that capitalism is fair for all individuals
What are contemporary examples of how the education system as influenced people to view capitalism positively? (Marxism)
- Promotes careers - university (paid)
- Says communism is bad
- Learn not to question or be critical of society
- Learn to respect and follow instructions
- Look down on non-capitalist societies
What did Bowles and Gintis argue? (Marxism)
Education is controlled by capitalists and is designed to serve capitalist interests.
What was Bowles and Gintis’ study? (Marxism)
Conducted a study into schooling in USA in 1970s and found education is closely linked with the world of work, teaching children the skills that capitalists value in their workers. They called this the correspondence principle
What is the correspondence principle? (Marxism)
This is when schooling mirrors the world of work in a capitalist society
How can we criticise the correspondence principle? (Marxism)
Gives opportunities of enrichment and transferrable skills
What is the hidden curriculum? (Marxism)
Term used to describe the values transmitted unofficially in school through ways teachers treat different groups of students and staff. Schooling corresponds with factory line production to prepare future workers
What are the features of the hidden curriculum? (Marxism)
- Schools rewards conformity with merits –> workers receive bonuses, praise and employee of the month
- Schools separate students based on ability –> managers have different tasks and wages, some are promotes
- Schools have a hierarchy –> can be seen with bosses and managers
- Schools days are structured controlling time to eat work and socialise –> there are shifts in work, some told when to go on break
- Pupils are motivated by the external reward of exam success –> workers motivated by pay rise/wage
What is cultural capital? (Marxism)
Middle class knowledge, attitudes and values that are passed to their children which helps them to achieve in education
Who came up with the idea of cultural capital and cultural reporduction?
Bourdieu
How is cultural capital seen in middle class pupils? (Marxism)
- Middle class pupils have an advantage because they have been socialised into the dominant culture e.g., British values, will educate them before school, reading, writing, visiting cultural places (museums)
- Middle class pupils have the codes to unlock the mysteries of education (elaborated code)
- Middle class parents have the ‘knowledge’ of how to play the system in their favour.
- Have money to move to better postcodes to a council which ahs more money, more tax paid, more money invested into the school
- Have connections, know how to read OFSTED reports, have time and money to go to open days
- Educated themselves so are able to help children further on in education
What is the function of education for Bourdieu? (Marxism)
To support and maintain capitalism by reproducing the values, beliefs and acceptance of capitalism
How does cultural capital such as language benefit middle class students? (Marxism)
can learn and understand more, also provides success in essay based subjects
How does cultural capital such as manners benefit middle class students? (Marxism)
People are more willing to help and more opportunities given if polite
How does cultural capital such as experiences benefit middle class students? (Marxism)
Will understand society better and have a greater understanding of how it works
What is cultural reproduction? (Marxism)
Takes place via socialisation of the young and is a pattern in which middle class children grow up learning middle class values, succeed in education and gain middle class jobs this is because they learn middle class values
What is the process of cultural reproduction? (Marxism)
Learn middle class values (from MC parents) –> succeed in education –> gain middle class jobs
What was Paul Willis’ ‘the lads’ study? (Marxism)
Conducted an ethnographic study called the ‘lads’ and argued that the lads rejected school and formed a counter school subculture suggesting they saw through capitalism and knew even if they worked hard, they had little chance of success
What does ethnographic mean?
looking at a specific group e.g., Paul Willis and ‘the lads’
How can you link Paul Willis’ ‘the lads’ study to false class consciousness?
The ‘lads’ show the lack of a false class consciousness as they are aware and know they have little chance of success
How can you link Paul Willis’ ‘the lads’ study to Davis and Moore’s idea of role allocation?
The ‘lads’ are likely to work in manual labour jobs because the academic system of school doesn’t fit with them. This means that they will be sifted and sorted and allocated the role of manual labour
What are the positive evaluation points of marxism?
- Useful in exposing the myth of meritocracy. The RC have the money for private education and tutors so no matter how hard someone works, there is always someone with an advantage
- Shows the role that the education system plays as an ideal state apparatus
What are the negative evaluation points of marxism?
- Postmodernists argue that education now reproduces diversity, not inequality. This encourages individuality, culture and new ideas - learning about other religions and cultures in r.e and differing views in sociology
- Marxists disagree with one another as to how reproduction and legitimation take place - Bowles and Gintis take the deterministic view, they assume pupils have no free will and fails to explain why some pupils reject school values
- Focus on class inequalities so can be classed as economic determinists
- Fails to look at ethnic and gender inequalities
What is interactionism?
A micro theory which focuses on the interactions individuals and tend to use qualitative research methods
Who developed the labelling theory? (Interactionism)
Howard Becker
What is labelling theory? (Interactionism)
Where a teacher defines a pupil in a way such as bright or dull. The way the teacher interacts with a pupil will be determined by their label e.g., asking brighter students harder questions. If the student responds accordingly, the prophecy is fulfilled.
Teachers labelled pupils on how closely they fitted the image of the ‘ideal pupil’
What is the halo effect? (Interactionism)
Where a teacher has an impression which influences the pupil. E.g., if a teacher sees them as bright and hardworking they will be helpful and polite. If they are seen as lazy and not bright they will be stroppy and difficult
What is the ideal pupil? (Interactionism)
Someone who is polite, listens, contributes, works hard and is punctual
What did Dunne and Gazeley investigate? (Interactionism)
Labelling in secondary schools
What was Dunne and Gazeley’s procedure and findings? (Interactionism)
From interviews of 9 English state secondary schools, they found that teachers ‘normalised; the underachievement of WC pupils and seemed unconcerned by it. They believed that MC pupils could overcome the underachievement.
This is because the teachers believed the pupil’s home background contributed a lot. They labelled WC parents as uninterested in their child’s education and labelled MC as supportive leading to class differences in how the teachers dealt with underachieving pupils
What was Dunne and Gazeley’s conclusion? (Interactionism)
The way that teachers explained and dealt with underachievement itself led to class differences in attainment
What is the self-fulfilling prophecy? (Interactionism)
Where a person lives up to their label
What was Rosenthal and Jacobson’s procedure? (Interactionism)
Field experiment conducted in an American elementary school. They told teachers that 20 of their students were expected to do very well in the exams. They claimed that on the basis of a test these students had been found to be late bloomers. There were NO DIFFERENCES within students.
They studied them for a year and found teachers treated the students differently in the way they spoke to them and the tasks given. Students began to think of themselves different to their classmates. When completing IQ tests at the end of the year, the 20 students who were labelled as bright made the most progress. This is the PYGMALION EFFECT
What does Rosenthal and Jacobson’s procedure show us? (Interactionism)
That when teachers positively label students, the will achieve better academically. If labelled negatively, there will be a negative effect and may not achieve their full potential
What are the ethical criticisms of Rosenthal and Jacobson’s study? (Interactionism)
There was no informed consent, there was deception of both students and teachers. No protection from harm as students labelled positively may think they’re not as good as they thought and those labelled negatively thought they weren’t bright creating mental harm. It is also a vulnerable group who can’t consent
What did Ball study? (Interactionism)
Banding at Beachside comprehensive
What was Ball’s procedure? (Interactionism)
Pupils put into one of 3 bands according to academic and personal info from their primary schools. Factors other than academic were used to decide which band pupils were placed in such as parent’s profession. Students from WC background would be placed in a lower band.
What were the effects of Ball’s study? (Interactionism)
There was a progressive deterioration in the behaviour of most band 2&3 pupils, higher levels of absence and non-conformist behaviour started to show as they felt it was an unjust system. They were entered into lower-level exams which restricted potential at O Levels. This then effected their destination after higher school and many didn’t continue to further education
What are the criticisms of Ball’s study? (Interactionism)
Ethical issues - no consent, affected their lives, deception
Limits certain students because info determines higher or foundation paper limiting their opportunities
What did Gillborn and Youdell study? (Interactionism)
‘Setting’ in two London secondary schools
What was Gillborn and Youdell’s procedure? (Interactionism)
Conducted studies in two separate London secondary schools into teacher and pupil interactions. In both schools they found many labels that they suggested would have a detrimental effect in a student and their academic ability.
- Teachers tend to see ability as fixed, seeing some pupils as having limited potential
- White MC pupils more likely to be viewed as ideal pupils therefore high levels of ability (Links to cultural capital)
- In both schools, pupils who didn’t fit the ideal were more likely to be judged in a general negative manner and placed in lower sets which widens gaps in achievement
What was Gillborn and Youdell’s conclusion? (Interactionism)
Ideas about ideal pupils was often linked with ethnicity and resulted in poor relationships between teachers and EMG pupils. They also identified the Educational Triage
What is the educational triage? (Interactionism)
Refers to sifting and sorting of pupils into categories
1. Those who will pass anyway and can be left to get on with it
2. Those with potential, who will be helped to get a grade C or better
3. Hopeless cases who are doomed to fail
How does Sutton disagree with Gillborn and Youdell’s view on EMG and teacher relationships? (Interactionism)
Argued that Asian girls are more likely to be seen as ideal, they used the halo effect to describe how these students were often favoured by teachers
How did Gillborn and Youdell link streaming? (Interactionism)
linked streaming to publishing of exam tables. These tables rank each school according to its exam performance e.g., percentage of pupils gaining 5 or more GCSEs at A*-C. They called this the ‘A-C economy’. This is the system whereby schools focus their time, effort and resources on the pupils who are seen to have the potential to get 5 grads Cs+ to boost the schools position in the league table
What are some criticisms of Gillborn and Youdell’s study? (Interactionism)
- Only 2 schools in London, need to broaden this to be able to generalise as it isn’t representative of all schools
Who developed the idea of subcultures in schools? (Interactionism)
Lacey
What is a pupil subculture? (Interactionism)
A group of pupils who share similar values and patterns of behaviour often emerging as a response to the way pupils have ben labelled and in a reaction to streaming
What is a pro-school subculture? (Interactionism)
Pupils are placed in high streams, tend to be MC and committed to the values of the school. They gain their status in the approved manner through academic success
What is an anti-school subculture? (Interactionism)
Pupils placed in low streams, WC, suffer from a loss of self-esteem as a result of being placed in an inferior position. In response to their low status pupils gan an alternative status by inverting school values of hard work and obedience and replace it with their own highly regarded values of truanting and disobedience
What is the process of developing a subculture? (Interactionism)
Labelling –> Self-fulfilling prophecy –> Subculture –>
Pro-school = success
Anti-school = failure
What did Tony Sewell study? (Interactionism)
African Caribbean subcultures
Who rejects Tony Sewell’s study? (Interactionism)
Mary Fuller
What did Tony Sewell find? (Interactionism)
Studied subcultures based on ethnicity in an all-boys school. He found that in response to being a minority group, with high levels of absent fathers, influence from peer groups and stereotyping by teachers, Afro-Caribbean students formed 4 subcultures
What are the 4 subcultures Tony Sewell found? (Interactionism)
Conformists, innovators, retreatists and rebels
What are conformists? (Interactionism)
They accepted the values of the school and tried to succeed through education
What are innovators? (Interactionism)
They kept out of trouble as they still hoped for success, however they did not seek the approval of teachers
What are retreatists? (Interactionism)
Individuals who kept themselves to themselves and didn’t join subcultures
What are rebels? (Interactionism)
They rejected the school and were aggressively masculine
What was Paul Willis’ ‘Learning to Labour’ study? (Interactionism)
Set in a comprehensive school in the 1970s (a time of de-industrialisation - shutting down mines and factories, manual jobs disappearing –> high unemployment). He used interviews, observations and participant observation to study ‘the lads’
What was Paul Willis?
Neo-marxist (Interactionism and Trad Marxism)
What were Paul Willis’ findings? (Interactionism)
- ‘Lads’ believed they were superior to teachers and pupils
- No interest in gaining academic qualifications
- Did as little work as possible and passed time with bad behaviour
- Unhappy at being treated like children, felt they belonged in the adult world
- Formed a counter school subculture which was racist, sexist and valued working-class masculinity (toughness and aggression)
- Valued manual labour over academic ability - PEN PUSHING - and said that this was for ‘ear oles’
What did Paul Willis find in his follow up? (Interactionism)
- Most of the boys worked in factors (Link to marxism, reject capitalism but work for bourgeoisie FCC)
- Found a shop floor culture which was racist, sexist and had little respect for authority believed to have stemmed from the counter school subculture
- Workers did as little as possible and passed time with bad behaviour
What was Paul Willis’ conclusion? (Interactionism)
- The lads saw through capitalism - they realised that as WC boys they had little hope of progression (accepted fate) which frustrated them leading them to a counter school subculture
- These actions worsened their position in society due to lack of success and being forced into menial work where they were exploited by the RC
What did Mac and Ghail study? (Interactionism)
Pupil class identities
What was Mac and Ghail’s procedure and findings? (Interactionism)
Studied WC students in a WC comprehensive in the Midlands. Found that distinct WC male peer groups developed as a result of setting, student-teacher relationships, position of students in the WC and changed in the local economy
WC ‘macho lads’ were dismissive of other working class boys who worked hard and aspired to MC careers referring to them as ‘dickhead achievers’, whilst MC ‘real Englishmen’ projected na image of ‘effortless achievement’
Dominant definition of masculinity changed from ‘macho lads’ in lower secondary school to ‘ English gentlemen’ in sixth form
What did Archer et al study? (Interactionism)
Interaction between WC pupil’s identities and school and how this produces underachievement
What is a habitus? (Interactionism)
all the things you do that define who you are e.g, the learned taken for granted assumptions, outlook, expectations and ways of being, doing and having.
MC had the power to define the MC habitus as superior and to impose it on the education system. Bourdieu referred to this as ‘symbolic violence’. This habitus is then the norm for schools and middle class pupils putting MC students at an advantage as they are already familiar with the values which can link to cultural capital
What did Archer find? (Interactionism)
WC pupils felt that they would need to change how they spoke and presented themselves in order to be educationally successful. As a result, many WC experienced education and schooling to be unnatural and alien
WC responded to the symbolic violence by constructing meaningful identities by investing in styles and branding
WC pupils invested in Nike identities due to their educational marginalisation and a preference for a particular lifestyle (going against uniform and creating new identity) many WC chose to exclude themselves from education
What is the brief history of educational policy? (Social policy)
- 1880 - Education made compulsory for 5-13 year olds, basic numeracy and literacy
- 1944 Education Act - Tripartite system introduced meaning children were sent to either Grammar schools, secondary modern or technical based on result of 11+ to achieve greater equality of opportunity
- 1965 Labour gov introduced comprehensive system to make education more meritocratic. The LEA could abolish 11+ and replace grammar and secondary moderns with comprehensive schools that all students in the area would attend. There are still 164 grammar schools inUK
What do the New Right believe about state-run services? (Social policy)
They are inefficient and that education needs to run like a business as it provides an incentive to improve the service. This is called the free market
They believe that by introducing this competition and choice for consumers it will result in greater efficiency and standard will improve because they will fight to be the most successful
What is marketisation? (Social policy)
the process of bringing market forces into education to increase competition and raise standards for consumers e.g., marketing towards students - websites, prospectus
How would marxists criticise the idea of making schools more like a business? (Social policy)
It isn’t actually a free market because school with more money will have better teachers/resources. This means that the best students will go there creating a large divide between different schools. Comprehensive schools were brought in for equality but this idea creates unequal education. Less focus on students and more focus on school image e.g., OFSTED.
Oversubscribed schools with a good reputation pick and choose students to achieve the best results to increase reputation it is a cycle
What are the conservative educational policies from the Education Reform Act (1988)? (Social policy - Conservative)
National curriculum, SATS, Exam league tables published and OFSTED inspections, Formula funding and open enrolment (parental choice)
When was the Conservative government? (Social policy)
1979-1997
What is the conservative policy of the National Curriculum? (Social policy - Conservative)
To improve standards, all students had access to the same high quality curriculum covering a range of subjects that can be compared on a national scale
How does the conservative policy of the National Curriculum fit into the 3 C’s? (Social policy - Conservative)
As everyone has the same curriculum, this creates an objective way of comparing results and creating competition. Consumers can then make a secision on which school is best
What is the conservative policy of the SATS? (Social policy - Conservative)
Attainment targets - goals which teachers are expected to enable students to reach. These are formal teacher assessments and results are published
How does the conservative policy of the SATS fit into the 3 C’s? (Social policy - Conservative)
Results are published which creates competition between results which are objective. Consumers will choose the school with the best results
What is the conservative policy of the Exam league tables and published OFSTED inspections? (Social policy - Conservative)
Publication of performance tables - allow parents the right to know about comparative school performance. This includes test and exam results and the absence rates of all schools and colleges. Published inspections were aimed to ensure that schools and colleges were doing a good job
How does the conservative policy of the Exam league tables and published OFSTED inspections fit into the 3 C’s? (Social policy - Conservative)
Gives parents a choice as there is competition to be the best school. As a consumer you will want to go to the best
What is the conservative policy of the Formula finding and open enrolment? (Social policy - Conservative)
Schools and colleges are funded based on numbers. Parents are allowed free choice of schools, rather than being allocated one
How does the conservative policy of the formula finding and open enrolment fit into the 3 C’s? (Social policy - Conservative)
Parents have a choice and will make this decision based on competition
What is parentocracy? (Social policy)
Power shifts from teachers and schools into the hands of the parents (encouraging diversity, choice and standards to improve) without parents choosing schools they will get less funding and do worse
How are schools run like a business? (Social policy - Conservative)
- Ensuring it is oversubscribed through spending money on buildings, resources etc. as it is appealing to parents
- Open days
- Adverts
- Visit high schools
- Exam results in newspapers
What did Gerwitz study? (Social policy - Conservative)
The effects of the educational reforms that had been introduced by the conservatives
What did Gerwitz find? (Social policy - Conservative)
3 categories of choosers:
1. Privileged or skilled choosers - MC parents who had benefits of time and good social contacts to aid them with finding the best schools. Able to evaluate league tables and move to more prosperous areas to ensure they lived within a schools catchment area. If all else failed their finances allowed them to send their child to private education
- Semi-skilled choosers - mainly WC parents who were ambitious for their children but lacked the social network or practical means to get their children into certain schools
- Disconnected or local choosers - WC parents were disconnected/local as their access to transport played a big part in their decision, with most WC children being sent to the school closest to their home. WC parents placed more importance on the preferences of their children than the academic reputation of the school
What did Ball et al study? (Social policy - Conservative)
Similar study criticised conservative marketisation policies saying parentocracy was a myth
What did Bartlett and LeGrand study? (Social policy - Conservative)
Criticise the policies saying it results in Cream-Skimming. This is when the most successful schools cherry-pick the most able students from the wealthiest backgrounds. This increases their success and becomes. a cycle. The opposite of this is Silt-Shifting which is when schools off-loads less able pupils or those with learning difficulties as they are expensive to educate and get poor results. It can be said that by setting Entrance Criteria e.g, exams or church attendance, schools are the ones with the choice of consumer not the other way round
When was the New Labour government? (Social policy - New Labour)
1997-2010
What was the New Labour governments approach to education? (Social policy - New Labour)
The ‘third way’ as it combined elements of traditional social values of social equality, equality of opportunity etc. with the New Right marketisation approach
What is the New Labour policy Aim higher? (Social policy - New Labour)
Got WC to aim higher, 50% of all adults should have an undergraduate degree by 2010
- Reduces inequality
What is the New Labour policy EMA? (Social policy - New Labour)
Educational maintenance allowance for 16-19 year olds which gives money to help with studying costs, means those from WC background can still attend college
- Reduces inequality
What is the New Labour policy Educational Action Zones? (Social policy - New Labour)
These aim to attract sponsorship and investment from the private sector to improve schools in low income areas
- Reduces inequality
What is the New Labour policy Student Loans? (Social policy - New Labour)
Help people pay for education giving people a chance to go to university
- Reduces inequality
What is the New Labour policy Specialist schools? (Social policy - New Labour)
Specialise in a certain subject and selects people for the specialism and can advertise this for more function which increases competition between other specialist schools, apply for certain specialisms based on the area to get consumers
- 3 C’s
What are the New Labour educational policies ? (Social policy - New Labour)
Aim higher, EMA, Educational action zones, Student loans, Specialist schools and academies
What is the New Labour policy Academies? (Social policy - New Labour)
This allows schools more control and for them to move away from the local council
What are the negative evaluation points of New Labour Educational Policy? (Social policy - New Labour)
Tomlinson said it reintroduced selection through specialist schools and narrowed the focus of education by putting too much emphasis on target results and league tables.
Some view academies as privatisation of the state system through the back door
Introducing student fees for higher education, counteracted any good done by widening access to HE, as coast would put many WC students off studying for a degree
What would Marxists say about New Labour Educational Policies? (Social policy - New Labour)
Student fees are a way to keep RC separated from WC.
Academies are a way for the bourgeoisie to have more control. Gov. support this because academies get money through trusts instead of gov. councils.
What would Functionalists say about New Labour Educational Policies? (Social policy - New Labour)
As the economy is changing, the education system does too, which is why specialist schools and academies exist
What does research from OFFS 2012 tell us about the widening participation programme? (Social policy - New Labour)
WC students still do not go to traditional/prestigious unis showing that the programme is ineffective.
% Of students from a manual background:
London Met. - 57%
Uni of Greenwich - 55%
Wolverhampton - 53%
Oxbridge - 11%
Bristol - 14%
Durham - 17%
When was the Coalition government? (Social policy - Coalition)
2010-2015
