Educational Policies Flashcards
What is an educational policy
a policy made by the Govt. introducing new plans or strategies for education
What do all Govts. believe education should be/do
- meritocratic
- produce a highly skilled workforce
- raise standards
What is meritocracy
Students are rewarded based on their hard work and efforts, not social background (equality of opportunities)
What is the tripartite system (pre 1965)
All students had to sit an exam called the 11+, which sorted them into a grammar school, technical school or secondary modern.
M/C tended to go to grammar because they could afford tutors etc to go there, W/C went to secondary modern because it was free.
When were comprehensive schools introduced
1965, abolished 11+ exams
What are comprehensive schools
Public schools for all abilities. There was no more sifting into rich and poorer schools. All students went to their nearest comprehensive school. Introduced by the LABOUR GOVT.
What are the types of selection schools could choose students by?
- by faith (based n=on beliefs of students’ parents)
- by aptitude (potential in a subject; technical schools can select up to 10% of students through this)
- by ability (forbidden for state schools to now do, apart from a handful of grammar schools)
When was the education system reformed?
1988 by the NEW RIGHT into the Education Reform Act (ERA)
What do the NEW RIGHT argue about education?
- some people are naturally more talented
- education is meritocratic and should encourage competition
- education should socialise people into shared universalistic values and provide a sense of national identity.
What did the NEW RIGHT criticise about the education system pre 1988?
- too much state control has led to economic decline and an inefficient system
- state education doesn’t meet needs of everyone and has a ‘one size fits all’ approach
- state education isn’t accountable for it’s poor standards; failing schools don’t change because they’re not answering to consumers (paying parents).
How much control should the GOVT have in education, according to the NEW RIGHT?
limited but still important role
What do the NEW RIGHT believe the GOVT should do to improve the education system?
- impose strict, standardised framework for schools to compete within (e.g. OFSTED, league tables, formula funding)
- make sure all schools transmit a shared, united culture (shared curriculum etc)
- education should affirm national identity; history should teach about a positive Britain and CRS about Christianity.
What did CHUBB & MOE find in their study?
Procedure: studied achievement in 60,000 pupils from low income families in private and public schools in the USA.
Found: pupils in LIC do 5% better in private schools. Suggesting education is NOR MERITOCRATIC
Concluded: state edu. has failed to provide equal opportunities to all students; parents and communities can’t do anything because schools are state controlled; private schools are better because they respond to paying consumers - the parents.
What did CHUBB & MOE suggest as a solution to their findings?
To introduce an education market in state schools
