Education Policies - Education

Question 1

The 1944 Tripartite System / butler

Answer 1

• Main aims

Selective education – students would receive a different education dependent on their ability. All students would sit a test at age 11 (the 11+) to determine their ability and sift them into the right type of school.

Equality of opportunity – All students in England and Wales have a chance to sit the 11 + . Previous to 1944, the only pupils who could get a good, academic equation were those who could afford it.

• Details of the Act
  Students took an IQ test at 11, the result of which determined which one of three three types of school the would attend:

The top 20% went to grammar schools, received an academic education and got to sit exams.

The bottom 80% went to secondary moderns. These provided a more basic education, and initially students didn’t sit any exams.

There were also technical schools which provided a vocational education, but these died out fairly quickly.

Question 2

1965 Comprehensives

Answer 2

• Main aims

Equality of opportunity – one type of school for all pupils

Question 3

The 1988 Education Act

Answer 3

• Main aims

To introduce free market principles (more competition) into the education system

to introduce greater parental choice and control over state education

Raising standards in education.

These are the aims associated with Neoliberalism and The New Right.

• Details of the act

Marketisation and Parentocracy (schools compete for pupils parents are like consumers)

League Tables – so parents can see how well schools are doing and make a choice.

OFSTED – to regulate and inspect schools.

National Curriculum – so that all schools are teaching the same basic subjects

Formula Funding – funding based on numbers of pupils – which encourages schools to raise standards to increase demand.

Question 4

1997 – New Labour

Answer 4

• Main aims

To respond to increased competition due to globalisation
Raising standards

Equality of opportunity

Increasing choice and diversity

• Details of policies

Increased funding to education

Reduced class sizes, introduced literacy and numeracy hour

Introduced Academies

Sure Start

EMA

Tuition fees introduced for HE