Education Reform Act 1988 Flashcards
What are all the ERA policies?
- Formula Funding
- League Tables
- Open Enrolment
- National Curriculum
- National Testing
What governmental party started this reform act?
Conservatives
What is meant by Marketisation?
When services, like education, were previously owned by local authority or government was removed and now independently manage the private businesses.
What were the Main Features of Marketisation?
- Competition - schools competing for customers
- Choice - allows customers a choice of school suited best
- Independence - allows for private ownership
What’s Parentocracy?
Parents freedom of choice for whichever school they believe is the best for their children.
What are League Tables and how are they beneficial?
Demonstrates the school’s performances and overall grades.
Benefits parents to find the best preforming schools.
Encourages COMPETITION between schools which raises standards.
What is OFSTED?
governmental organisation for school inspections
What is National Curriculum and how is this beneficial?
A standardised education where all schools are required to teach the same content in each subject.
Beneficial by creating equality for students and making it easier to compare schools.
What is Formula Funding and how is this beneficial?
money allocated per student enrolled.
and pupil premium (extra money for those eligible for free school meals )
benefits the most successful schools in the market as they get rewarded for attracting customers
pupil premium benefits low income families which provides extra money
Whats Open Enrolment and hows it beneficial?
Schools have to accept students if they have vacancies.
Benefits parents as its not limited to catchment area ( parental choice )
and popular schools get filled with students which increases competition
What are the benefits to schools having more independence?
Schools can improve through headteachers as they have internal knowledge of whats best for the school and students.
It also responds to parental wishes - principle of supply and demand.
What are the strengths of ERA?
- increases educational standards
- more diversity of schools
- education is more flexible
improves social mobility
Criticisms of Marketisation
- competition leaves schools focused more on marketing than the students
- frequent testing has negative effects on students
- policies reproduce social inequality
Whats ‘Ball et all’ myth on Parentocracy?
Middle class parents able to make greater use of parental choice as they have the cultural, material capital.
Giving them a better position to:
*find best schools
*understand league tables
*understand selection progress
*have the money for transport, move to catchment areas etc.
Whats Tough and Brookes theory on Parentocracy?
Middle class parents are more likely to choose schools based on performance levels etc.
Whereas working class parents will choose closest schools or where friends and family go.
