Education Policy History

Question 1

Forster Education Act 1870

Answer 1

Compulsory education from 5-10, raised to 12 in 1918. This consisted of elementary school (free), grammar school (fees) and public school (fees).

Question 2

Butler Education Act 1944

Answer 2

‘A land fit for heroes’
Tripartite system, 11+ exam went to secondary modern, technical school, grammar school. Meritocratic ideology, parity of esteem between social classes.

Question 3

Evaluate the Butler Education Act 1944

Answer 3

M/C had better primary schooling so we’re better at the 11+. The 11+ was written in the elaborated code. There was negative stigma associated with secondary modern which lead to a self fulfilling prophecy. Teachers were paid less is secondary modern spence they were less qualified/motivated. The M/C can pay for private. Secondary moderns were poorly resourced.

Question 4

Comprehensivisation 1965

Answer 4

11+ abolished, all inclusive regardless of social class or ability. Parity of esteem and equality. Educational priority areas, deprived schools in W/C areas were given additional funding and resources named ‘positive discrimination’.

Question 5

Evaluate comprehensivisation 1965…

Answer 5

Setting and streaming hence individual talents are overlooked and high flyers are held back VV. M/C get M/C schools VV and can still afford private schools. LEAs choose, could still use 11+ system (conservatives) eg. Kent.

Question 6

Education Reform Act 1988

Answer 6

Raise standards, schools made more accountable, market principles increase efficiency and competition. Greater choice (consumers).

Question 7

What did the Education Reform Act bring in?

Answer 7

National curriculum, league tables, national testing, open enrolment, grant maintained status.

Question 8

What arête advantages of the nation curriculum?

Answer 8

Compare performance, continuity eg when moving, government control, same diet.

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of the national curriculum?

Answer 9

Political interference, less choice, suits accede if pupils only, private schools are excluded.

Question 10

What are the advantages or league tables?

Answer 10

Parents can compare, schools are motivated, teachers are held accountable.

Question 11

What are the disadvantages of league tables?

Answer 11

They create sink schools, don’t take into account value added or socioeconomic makeup of the school, figures can be manipulated.

Question 12

What ace the advantages of national testing?

Answer 12

Teachers are encouraged to get grades up, performance can be compared.

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of national testing?

Answer 13

Pressure, failure Leeds to feelings of worthlessness, exam factories, value added not considered, talents in untested subjects.

Question 14

What are the advantages of open enrolment?

Answer 14

Specialist schools, schools compete, popular schools receive funding.

Question 15

What are the disadvantages of open enrolment?

Answer 15

Less popular - less funding, broke communities, minority subjects abandoned, schools focused on marketing.

Question 16

What are the advantages of grant maintained status?

Answer 16

Less dictating from LEA, funds are at the schools disposal, greater autonomy for head teachers.

Question 17

What is grant maintained status?

Answer 17

Schools opt out of LEA and receive direct funding form central government.

Question 18

What are the disadvantages of grant maintained status?

Answer 18

Some schools get more money, entry examinations, schools avoid LEAs specialist guidance in progressive education.

Question 19

New Labour 1977-2010

Answer 19

Reduce inequality and promote equality. Compensatory education. Literacy and numeracy. Education leads to economic success. They kept conservative policies BUT introduced:

Reducing class sizes to 30 (one on one/behaviour management)
Literacy and numeracy hours (employees/economy access curriculum and improve key skills)
After school H/W clubs (compensatory education)
Social exclusion units (compensatory education)
Education action zones (50 UK areas, compensatory, additional funding)
University course fees (repay fees based on income, students pay a certain sum reduce state spending)

Reproduced and legitimised inequality, myth of parentocracy/meritocracy.

Question 20

Coalition 2010-2015

Answer 20

Academies - independent state funded schools, more freedom, independent if an LEA. World beating system, equality of education benefit privileged neighbourhoods BUT better teachers, religion, fragment communities.

Free Schools - set up by parents, businesses, charities, trusts funded by central government. BUT fragment communities, religious curriculum, M/C set them up, parentocracy.

E-Bacc - measures how many students leave a school with above a grade C in core ‘traditional subjects’ BUT turning back the clock, getting rid of vocational subjects.