Educational policies Flashcards
How did the 1944 Education Act aim to make schools more meritocratic?
Grammar schools, free for all and paid for by the State
What are criticisms that can be made of the 1944 Education Act and the Tripartite system?
- Only 20% of population could go to a grammar school
- Secondary moderns did not establish parity of esteem
- Less places made for girls even though they tended to do better on the 11+ exams.
- Few technology schools actually built due to cost
What influenced the Comprehensivisation of Schools?
Floud & Halsey (1956)
- Argued 11+ unfair on those from working class background & all students should have access to same educational opportunities
What was the New Right criticism of Comprehensives?
Progress stagnated as schools would just find ways to try and revert back to grammar system principles internally & more time was spent dealing with behavioural issues
How were schools “marketised” by the 1988 Education Act?
- League tables
- Parents could now choose
- National curriculum
What criticisms can be made of the marketisation of schools?
- middle class parents granted better choice due to financial mobility
- house prices rose in areas where there was successful schools and vice versa
- Undue stress and pressure on kids because of testing
How has the marketisation of schools improved schools?
- Focus on getting kids better results
- Pass rates in English & Maths have increased
- More accountability for schools (Ofsted)
- Failing schools given support
What was the 1976 Ruskin Speech?
A questioning of the suitability of the education system for providing children with the skills to succeed
How has “parity of esteem” attempted to have been established in the education system since 1976?
Vocational courses; beginning with Youth training scheme , then NVQs and then T-Levels
What are popular trends in schools today?
- Assessing progress over achievement
- Providing a knowledge rich curriculum
- Greater school accountability on range & breadth of curriculum
