educational policy and inequality

Question 1

what is educational policy?

Answer 1

• plans and strategies for education introduced by government
• includes acts of parliament
• instructions and recommendations to schools and local authorities
• example: 2010 academies act, which allowed all state schools to become academies

Question 2

what issues does most educational policy respond to?

Answer 2

• equal opportunities: do policies help achieve equality or increase inequalities?
• selection and choice: what types of schools should exist? should schools select pupils? should parents choose schools for their children?
• control of education: who should control schools and what they teach? influence of government, councils, schools, businesses, teachers, parents, and pupils
• marketisation and privatisation: should state schools operate like businesses? should private companies run schools?

Question 3

how have educational policies affected inequality?

Answer 3

• many policies maintain and justify inequality between classes, genders, and ethnic groups
• some policies have had success in reducing inequality