education past paper questions

Question 1

define the term secondary socialisation (2)

Answer 1

The way that agencies , such as religion/media, transmit the norms, values and culture of a society

Question 2

using ONE example , briefly explain how schools might respond to increased diversity cause by patterns of migration (2)

Answer 2

1) Increased recruitment of teachers may be needed , to make sure there are sufficient teachers competent with teaching students with English as a second language

2)The organisation of the school day might need to be altered , to allow for observance of religious and cultural obligations

3) The nature of school meals may need to be altered , for example ends that offer more culturally diverse lunch options

Question 3

outline THREE reasons why girls may be more successful in school than boys (6)

Answer 3

1) MOTIVATION OF GIRLS TO SUCEED, girls used the increased presence of women in the world of work as an incentive to succeed

2) FEMINISATION OF EDUCATION , the curriculum is delivered in a way that might suit ‘feminine traits’ eg writing and listening

3)HIGHER STANDARDS OF LITERACY in girls allows them to achieve more highly than boys

4) CRISIS OF MASCULINITY , boys try and assert their masculinity through the rejection of school

Question 4

outline and explain 2 ways ion which teacher-pupil interactions may affect the educational achievement of pupils from minority ethnic groups (10)

Answer 4

• Teacher labelling of some ethnic minority pupils may result in a negative experience in lessons
• (2 applications of relevant material) eg teacher labelling of some ethnic minority pupils may result in negative experience in lessons
• Ethnic minority pupils’ educational achievement may be negatively affected by the
  impact of setting and streaming. Racism and discrimination could lead to higher rates of exclusion and so may reinforce educational underachievement.
• There will be appropriate analysis, eg the linking of negative experiences to levels of
  achievement.

Question 5

outline and explain 2 ways ion which teacher-pupil interactions may affect the educational achievement of pupils from minority ethnic groups (10)

INDICATIVE CONTENT

Answer 5

• Teacher labelling of some pupils from minority ethnic groups may result in a negative experience in lessons
• Some members of ethnic minorities may respond to teacher labelling by forming anti-school subcultures or pro-education/anti-school responses (found by fuller)
• the result of the teacher pupil interactions could lead to a self fulfilling prophecy , in which students may either exceed expectations or perform poorly
• teacher-pupil relationships may lead to the student receiving a master status, which in turn could affect other interactions in the school
• exclusions & the impact t of the school disco. sys alongside streaming and setting could all lead to ed. underachievement

Question 6

Outline two criticisms of schools selecting pupils by ability (4)

Answer 6

1) some pupils are LATE DEVELOPERS , selecting by ability at age 11 means that students who developed academically at a later age are at a disadvantage

2) selection may BENEFIT MIDDLE CLASS children, m/c parents can provide tutors and coaching for their children so that they do well in tests

3) there are DIFFICULTIES in measuring ability , IQ tests only measure one aspect of ability

4) Testing may result in LOWER SELF ESTEEM for children, testing may stigmatise both children and the schools they attend

5) Tests used to SELECT PUPILS might be CULTURALLY BIASED , the language used may be biased against w/c and minority ethnic groups

Question 7

Outline three ways in which the characteristics of schools may be similar to the characteristics of workplaces (6)

Answer 7

1- Both are FRAGMENTED, at school knowledge is fragmented into different subjects; at work labour is fragmented into small meaningless tasks

2- Both are based on COMPETITION, at school students compete for high grades; at work, employees compete for high wages

3- Both have a HIERARCHY of AUTHORITY, at school there are hierarchies between teachers and between teachers and students; at work there are hierarchies of management

4- Both are based on ALIENATION, at school students have little control over their time or what they study; at work, employees have little control of the production process

Question 8

All levels of the education system show differences in achievement between ethnic groups. When
explaining these patterns, some sociologists focus on the role of the home and family life in
promoting educational achievement for some ethnic groups. However, other sociologists suggest that factors within schools are more important in explaining
differences in achievement between ethnic groups. (10)

Answer 8

Evaluation may be developed, for
example through a discussion of the relative importance of home background (e.g. cultural
and material) versus school factors (e.g. ethnocentric curriculum, linguistic factors, labelling
)or the interrelationships between them and wider social factors such as racism in society

Question 9

All levels of the education system show differences in achievement between ethnic groups. When
explaining these patterns, some sociologists focus on the role of the home and family life in
promoting educational achievement for some ethnic groups. However, other sociologists suggest that factors within schools are more important in explaining
differences in achievement between ethnic groups. (10)

INDICATIVE CONTENT

Answer 9

cultural deprivation, material deprivation,
labelling theory, ethnocentric curriculum, racism, prejudice, linguistic codes, extended families, lone
parent families, social class, subcultures, pupil identity, locked –in inequality, marketisation