Educational Policy Flashcards
When was the Tripartite System formed?
1944
Explain the tripartite system?
- 3 different types of secondary schools
- grammar
- secondary modern
- technical - had to sit an 11+ exam if they passed they went to a grammar school
What was a grammar school (tripartite system)?
Offered an academic curriculum in which people have the opportunity to go to university
What is a secondary modern school (tripartite system)?
More vocational and practical subjects such as woodwork and home economics
What is a technical school (tripartite system)?
Would aim to train children to work in specific trade areas such as mechanics
What did the supporters of the tripartite system have to offer?
Helped to sift and sort pupils based on ability, it enabled them to pursue education which was better for their needs.
What did critics sight about the tripartite system?
Failed to enact social mobility. For two reason
Gender
-difficult for girls to pass the 11+ exam therefore girls would go to a secondary modern to learn how to be housewives
Class
-majority of children that went to a grammar school were middle class. Parents were able to afford to pay for tuition for them to pass the 11+. Those of the working class who did pass the 11+ felt excluded due to the habitus. As a result social mobility was not enacted.
When was the Comprehensive system put into place?
1965
What was the main purpose of the comprehensive system?
Does not recruit pupils based on ability
What 3 factors were there in the comprehensive system?
- removal of the 11+ exam
- introduction of a catchment system
- delivered the same cirriculum made up of vocational and academic subjects
What do functionalists think about the comprehensive system?
Claim it is a meritocratic system giving all pupils the same opportunity. The same curriculum means people from all classes study a range of subjects
What does Ford (1969) believe about the comprehensive system
Mixes people from different social classes (social integration)
What do Marxists believe about the comprehensive system?
Does little to enact social mobility. Those from working class backgrounds go to poorer schools, those from middle class schools go to better schools meaning there is little social integration. Furthermore, working class pupils are met with setting and streaming, labelling. Myth of meritocracy
What are the 3 arguments in support of marketisation within education?
- raises standards
- reduce inequality
- more parental control
How has marketisation led to an increase in standards?
New Right sociologists argue that marketisation encourages schools to raise standards. Schools are dependent on receiving “custom” from parents so need to make their institution more successful by improving grades and facilities. Not the case under the catchment system whereby government controlled places. Old system did not motivate schools