Educational policy in Britain before 1988. Flashcards
Describe the types of schools that existed after 1940 that tried to achieve meritocracy through the tripartite system.
Grammar School- Involved an academic curriculum and access to higher education. They were mainly middle-class and only provided access to pupils who passed the 11+ exam.
Secondary Modern schools: Involved a non-academic curriculum and access to manual work for pupils who failed the 11+ exam and were mainly working class.
Describe the comprehensive school system after 1965.
It abolished the 11+ and grammar/secondary schools were replaced with comprehensive schools that all pupils would attend in the area.
However, it gave local education authority to decide on this change. Therefore the divide still exists in many areas.
Describe the two theories (Marxist and functionalist) of the role of comprehensive schools.
Marxists: Not meritocratic as class inequality is still reproduced through streaming and labeling. They appear meritocratic however this legitimates inequality through the myth of meritocracy.
Functionalists: They promote social class integration. However, a sociologist found that w/c + m/c hardly mixed. They also see it as meritocratic because of the length students had to develop ability compared to the tripartite system.
