Educational Policy Flashcards
What was the education system like in the late 1800s?
There were no state schools and the very rich could pay to go to private schools. Some churches gave education to the poor
In what year did school become compulsary?
1880 for between 5 and 13
When was the tripartite system introduced?
1944
What law introduced the tripartite system?
1944 Education Act
What was the tripartite system?
Students were allocated to 3 types of school based on the 11+ test.
Grammar schools offered access to higher education and academic careers
Secondary modern schools offered access to manual work
Technical schools were only avaliable in a few places
How does the tripartite system reproduce class inequality?
It channels the two social classes into two types of schools as rich people do better on the test
How does the tripartite system reproduce gender inequality?
Girls were required to do better on the 11+ test to get into grammar school
When was the comprehensive school system introduced?
1965
What was the comprehensive school system?
Schools where all children could attend
How do functionalists see the comprehensive system?
Helps to promote social intergration and allows education to be meritocratic
How do marxists see the comprehensive system?
Legitimising class inequality and reproducing class underachievement as there’s still streaming
When were marketisation policies first introduced?
1988
When were academies introduced?
2010
What is the aim of marketisation?
Increase competition and parental choice
What is parentocracy?
Where parents are given more choice over schools due to marketisation
What policies have promoted parentocracy?
Publication of legue tables and Ofsted reports Open enrollment Academies Formula funding Free schools
How does David describe marketisation?
He describes it as parentocrasy where parents are given control which encourages diversity and raises standards
What do Ball and Whitty argue about marketisation?
It reproduces class inequality and creates inequality between schools
Who came up with the idea of cream-skimming?
Barlett
What is the impact of marketisation according to Barlett?
Cream skimming where good schools are attractive to middle class parents and the schools can then be selective over pupil intake. Working class students are not accepted and they go to sink schools which become unequal
How does the funding formula lead to inequalities between schools?
Popular middle class schools attract more pupils so gain more funding. They spend this on better facilities and teachers. Unpopular schools have less money so they lose money and can’t deliver the same quality of lessons
What does Gewirtz argue about parental choice?
It mainly benifits middle class families as they have the economic and cultural capital to take advantage of the system Skilled choosers: Middle class parents who know how admissions work and can take advantage of the system Local choosers: Working class parents who find it difficult to understand admissions and are less aware of their choices Semi-skilled choosers: Ambitious working class parents who are frustrated they can't get their children into a better school
What types of choosers did Gewirtz identify?
Skilled choosers: Middle class parents who know how admissions work and can take advantage of the system Local choosers: Working class parents who find it difficult to understand admissions and are less aware of their choices Semi-skilled choosers: Ambitious working class parents who are frustrated they can't get their children into a better school
Which sociologists discuss the myth of parentocracy?
Gewirtz
Leech and Campos
