Educational Policies Flashcards
What does educational policy mean
It refers to the plans and strategies for education introduced by governments
When did school become compulsory
1880- the state made school compulsory for ages 5-13
To equip w/c with basic numeracy and literacy skills needed for routine factory work and instil obedience into them for superiors.
what did the 1944 butler education act introduce
The tripartite system
What is the tripartite system
This was the introduction of 3 schools and kids were selected to one of these schools according to their ability and aptitude, that was found through the 11+ exam.
They were either sent to a grammar school- academic curriculum, higher education for mainly m/c
Secondary modern schools- practical curriculum, for those who failed the 11+ exam mainly w/c
Technical schools- that were only In some areas so argued the system is bipartite.
What was the effects of the butler education act of 1944 that introduced the tripartite system
The tripartite system was said to increase class inequality by channelling the two classes into diff schools that provided unequal opportunities. leading w/c into factory jobs and m/c into professional jobs.
It also reproduced gender inequality as girls had to score higher on the 11+ exam to get into grammar schools.
1965 - the comprehensive system
What was its aim and What is it
It aimed to overcome class inequality by getting rid of grammar schools and secondary modern schools along with the 11+ exam and replaced them with comprehensive schools, That everyone attended.
However, it was up to the local education authority whether or not they went ‘comprehensive’ so not all areas did.
What are the positives and negatives of the 1965 comprehensive act
✅- gives more equal opportunity to both classes
-mixes social classes together- less divide
- no entry test
❌-mixed ability classes didn’t work for some
- too large- Impersonal teaching
-standard for teaching not as good
- brigh kids robbed of the higher quality of teaching at grammar schools.
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Who introduced the 1988 education reform act and what was their aim by introducing it.
Conservative government - Margaret thatcher
- she wanted to improve the standard of education by putting schools against each other to attract students.
What policies came under The 1988 education reform act
- the national curriculum
-marketisation of education
-league tables
-formula funding
-OFSTED
-SATS tests
1988 education reform act- what does the marketisation of education mean
This is the idea that schools are now run more like business’ with importance placed on money and consumers leading to schools competing for students and funding.
-This competition includes getting higher on league tables and getting Better OFSTED reports than other schools to attract the ‘consumers’ (students and parents) so they can get more formula funding.
1988 education reform act- policies that promoted marketisation
-promotion of parentocracy
- league tables
-Ofsted
-business sponsorship of education
-formula funding
-allowing people to set up free schools not ran by the state
1988 education reform act- what is parentocracy
It means ‘rule by parents’ - League tables and ofsted reports that rank schools depending on results and standard of the schools education allows parents to make fully informed choices about what school they send their kids to.
1988 education reform act- what is formula funding and how does formula funding and league tables reproduce inequality
-schools are given funds based on how many students they attract - so more popular schools can afford better qualified teachers, better facilities and resources.
This popularity also allows them to be more selective with pupils so they’re more likely to pick higher achieving m/c kids to get higher on the league table.
-therefore unpopular schools have less funding so have lower quality teachers and facilities and can be less selective so likely to have w/c kids.
-this reproduces class inequality as it gives m/c a better education so more chance of success in the future.
Gerwirtz - differences in parental choice
Gerwirtz believes parental choice of schools benefits m/c parents who’s economic and cultural capital puts them in a better position to choose good schools for their kids.
she identifies 3 types of parents when choosing schools
Privileged-skilled choosers- middle class who know how admission works, look at league tables, results, clubs, facilities
Disconnected-local choosers- find admission process difficult, take into account distance and cost, choose school by convenience w/c parents
Semi-skilled choosers- w/c still ambitious for their children but rely on personal opinions of schools eg friends,relatives.
Evaluation of marketisation
❌- the myth of parentocracy - marketisation makes it appear that all parents have the same free choice of what school they send their kid too. However gerwitz showed that m/c parents use their economic and cultural capital to take better advantage of the choices available. Eg they can afford to move into catchment areas of better schools.
❌-league tables and formula funding = popular schools to be more selective with pupils so they’re more likely to pick higher achieving m/c kids to get higher on the league table and unpopular schools have less funding so have lower quality teachers and facilities and can be less selective so likely to have w/c kids. Reproducing class inequality.
Who introduced policies from 1997-2010 and what was their aim
New labour
Their aim was to reduce educational inequality
1997-2010 new labour gov- what policies did they introduce
-sure start - help kids in disadvantages areas by providing better childcare, early education and health and family support.
-excellence in cities- provide extra resources in disadvantages inner-city areas to help them overcome economic and social disadvantages. Eg learning centres.
Educational maintenance allowance (EMAs) £30 a week to students in low income families so they can provide themselves with the educational resources they need, lunch money etc.
-no more than 30 in a class and increased funding for state education
Evaluation of new labour (1997-2010)
❌- they didn’t get rid of educational inequality adequately and actually increased them in some ways eg they added tuition fees for higher education which makes it less accessible to w/c pupils. This contradicts what their aim is.
❌- study shows even those who were part of sure start policies and Had EMA still were underachieving in school showing they are not as effective as suggested.
Who introduced policies from 2010-2015 and what was their aim
The coalition government
Wanted to reduce the role of the state in education through marketisation and privatisation of education.
-they wanted to again encourage competition between schools.
Coalition government 2010-1015- what policies did they introduce
Academies- state schools encouraged to become academies which were free from state control and the national curriculum. Focused mainly on poor areas to replace underachieving comprehensive schools.
Free school- not run by the state but funded by the government it gives parents and teachers the Chance to make their own schools that don’t need to teach the national curriculum, if they’re unhappy with state schools in their area.
❌Increased tuition fees however larger students loans given and was debt gone after 30 years to encourage poorer kids to go uni
❌EMA (educational maintenance allowance) abolished and coursework removed
✅Pupil premium- extra money given to schools for every pupil who comes from a poor background - help attract poorer kids to better schools and reduce social inequality. THEY ALSO INTRODUCED FREE SCHOOLS MEALS
Evaluation of the coalition gov (2010-2015)
❌pupil premium was ineffective - made little to no difference to support poorer kids as the money was most likely spent on other matters in the school and not on improving educational achievement amount poorer kids.
❌free schools reinforce inequality- most likely m/c parents running it so attracts m/c who are more likely to do well in these schools and the free schools in high demand likely to become selective and choose high achieving m/c kids- so reinforces class inequality
What policies target gender inequality
- national curriculum- boys and girls studying same subjects
-GIST and WISE - helps encourage girls to study subjects that are in a male gender domain.
-removal of course work to end of year exams
-recruitment of male primary schools teachers
What policies target class inequalities
Sure start
EMA
Pupil premium
Free school meals
