educational reform/policy Flashcards
1870 Forster Act
tried to fill gaps in state run education to make sure children had access to education until age 10 (made compulsory in 1880)
Fisher Education Act 1918
made attendance compulsory until age 14
strengths of 1870-1918 acts
- improved equality
- mass literacy
weaknesses of 1870-1918 acts
- unequal as most working class children left with no qualifications
- no vocational relevance
Butler Education Act / Tripartite System 1944
children would take the 11+ exam and this would determine which type of secondary school they went to
selection by 11+
- grammar schools (20%, passed, mainly m/c)
- secondary modern schools (75%, didn’t pass, mainly w/c)
- technical schools (5%, borderline/voluntary exams, few existed)
strengths of Tripartite system
- equal opportunity
- meritocracy
- suits needs of learner
- encouraged social mobility
weaknesses of Tripartite system
- IQ testing lacks validity
- gender bias
- late developers
- still unequal (secondary modern schools viewed as second rate)
development of comprehensive 1965-1979
abolished the 11+ and all 3 types of school had to become comprehensives, with selection being based only on catchment area
strengths of comprehensive system
- more equality of opportunity
- more pupils with qualifications
- more social mixing and fewer social divisions
weaknesses of comprehensive system
- unequal as there are still private and grammar schools
- still socially divisive in setting
- catchment areas mean w/c end up in failing schools
Conservative Educational Policies 1979-1997
Margaret Thatcher’s approach became known as the “New Right” and wanted education to meet the needs of industry and raise standards without spending a lot of money
1. new vocationalism
2. marketisation/competition
New Vocationalism 1983-1986
response to a rise in youth unemployment during the 70s as they did not have the skills required to meet employer needs:
YTS (youth training scheme) - one year, work-based training scheme for school leavers in which they could take vocational qualifications
Vocational Qualifications - NVQ (national council for vocational qualifications) set up for a range of specific occupations, and GNVQs created for those who wanted to keep options open
strengths of new vocationalism
- gives people skills required for particular industries
weaknesses of new vocationalism
- does not reduce unemployment (lack of jobs rather than skills)
- low quality training
- inferior status of vocational qualifications