Educational policy pt 2: lesson 3

Question 1

Key facts on marketisation

Answer 1

• introduced in Educational Reform Act 1988 by Margret Thatcher
• process of introducing market forces

Question 2

Why are marketisation policies favoured?

Answer 2

• school’s responsible for getting customers
• schools compete with each other
• give parents increased choice

Question 3

What is parentocracy?

Answer 3

Power from schools and teachers moved to parents

Question 4

What did the Education Reform Act 1988 change?

Answer 4

• introduced national curriculum
• open enrolment
• OFSTED & league table
• Formula funding

Question 5

What does formula funding entail?

Answer 5

• allocated funding per child

Question 6

What is the positive loop for formula funding?

Answer 6

• schools allocated more funding
• school standards improve
• school attract more pupils

Question 7

What is the negative loop for formula funding?

Answer 7

• schools allocated less funding
• school standards decline
• school attracts less pupils

Question 8

Evaluate the Education Reform Act 1988

Answer 8

Success
- no government made overwhelming changes
- league tables international
- GCSE improving per year
Problems
- reproduce inequality
- middle class family advantage
- standard testing = self fulfilling prophecy

Question 9

How does The Education Reform Act 1988 reproduce inequality?

Answer 9

Ball & Whitty 1998
- cream skimming: good school can be more selective , often choosing high achieving middle class.
- silk shifting: good schools avoid less able pupils but bad schools can’t be picky

Question 10

How do middle class families have an advantage due to the Education Reform Act 1988?

Answer 10

Gewirtz
- economic capital: transport costs & selection by mortgage
- culture capital: middle class families know more about education system