education policies (equality) Flashcards
What are the three aims of education policy in the UK?
- economic efficiency
- raising educational standards
- Creating equality of educational opportunity
what is economic efficency?
develop the skills of the young to improve the labour force. This
involves making the education system meet the needs of industry and employer
what is raising educational standards?
UK education needs to compete in a global education market and is ranked against other countries – e.g. PISA
what is Creating equality of educational opportunity?
ensuring that all students get the best educational opportunities.
What are the 4 aspects of educational equality identified by Gillborn and Youdell?
- equality of access
- equality of circumstance
- equality of participation
- equality of outcome
explain equality of access
Every child should have the same
opportunities to access educational provision of similar
quality regardless of socioeconomic background.
explain the equality of circumstance
Children should all start school
with a similar socio-economic
background so that they are all
truly equal.
explain equality of participation
All students have the chance to
participant on an equal footing in
the processes that make up
school life.
explain equality of outcome
All students have the same
chances of achievement in
education regardless of socioeconomic background.
Policies which increased equality in education
- 1988 Education Reform Act – National curriculum
- 1965 – Comprehensivisation
Act - Schools Admissions Code
- Policies that improve inequality in circumstances
how did the 1988 Education Reform Act increase equality?
All schools had to teach the same core curriculum
what is the evaluation of the 1988 Education Reform Act?
Not suitable for all – suits ‘academic’ pupil more.
how did the 1965 –Comprehensivisation Act increase equality?
Got rid of the 11+ exam and made it so all students would get ‘Parity of Esteem’ & ‘Equality’ within
education
what is the evaluation for the 1965 –Comprehensivisation Act?
Comprehensives are large schools so lack individual attention
how did the schools admissions code increase equality?
Forbids discrimination in admitting pupil on grounds of socio-economic backgrounds or ability.
what is the evaluation for schools admissions code?
Covert selection still takes place by both schools and parents. Postcode lottery
how did the Policies that improve
inequality in circumstances increase equality?
Pupil Premium – additional funding for those students
from a poor socio-economic background. Compensatory education
what is the evaluation for Policies that improve inequality in circumstances?
Kerr and West – too many other
factors outside of school that impact achievement.
3 types of selection
- Selection by ability – entrance
tests - Selection by aptitude – Talents
- Selection by Faith
Arguments in favour of selection
- Allows ‘high-flyers’ to benefit.
- Specialised and focused
teaching can take place.
Arguments against selection
- Late developers don’t benefit.
- Mixed ability fosters social cohesion.
- Reduced risk of labelling and
therefore SFP - HA can act as a inspiration to other students.
Open Enrolment Polices &
Parental Choice
OEP mean that parents can apply to any state school, in any area and if the school is under subscribed they must take the child.
However oversubscribed schools fill up quickly so many parents don’t get their 1st choice
Over Subscription Policies
Priority to:
* Children in care,
* Pupil premium,
* Siblings (at discretion of LA)
* Catchment area – closest first,
* Faith
Covert Selection
Tough and Brooks:
Backdoor social selection to cherry pick students.
Discouraging parents of poorer
students from applying in the first place through high uniform prices, making literature hard to understand, not advertising in poorer areas.
Faith schools require a letter from spiritual leader to gain insight to the potential students family and commitment to both the faith and the school ethos.
