equality of opportunity

Question 1

Conservative 1979-1997 - Equality of opportunity

Answer 1

Education Reform Act 1988 and New vocationalism

ERA - Introduction of National Curriculum saw a more equal access to education.

New vocationalism - Opportunities for working class people to gain a qualification / route into work at post-16. Eg, YTS and NVQs.

Question 2

Labour 1997-2010 - Equality of opportunity

Answer 2

City Academies and Sure Start (Compensatory Education)

City academies - Failing schools given opportunity to claim academy status. Aimed to support working class students, as they were introduced in deprived areas, local business fundings meaning better provision and more opportunity.

Sure start - Additional funding at nursery age, opened centres to ensure a sure start to education.

Question 3

Coalition 2010-2015 - Equality of opportunity

Answer 3

Pupil Premium

Pupil premium - Funding directly given to schools to support students who require it (e.g. those from the working classes). For those eligible for Free School Meals and those with special needs. Replaced EMA.

Question 4

Miller - Inequality of opportunity

Answer 4

Class inequality
School choice an ‘illusion’ and working classes don’t have equality of opportunity. Poorer pupils are less able to exercise choice as they can’t afford to travel to better schools.

Question 5

Wragg - Inequality of opportunity

Answer 5

Marxist class inequality
The Victorian railway carriage of inequality
– The middle classes benefit.
1st class - Eton, Harrow, Oxford, Cambridge (Upper class)
2nd class - Grammar and 'Outstanding' schools (Middle class)
3rd - 'Unsatisfactory' comprehensives (Working class)

Question 6

Bourdieu - Inequality of opportunity

Answer 6

Class inequality
Economic capital – Middle class parents are financially more able to support their children – Tutors, cultural capital, resources. Travel to the best schools etc. More needs to be done to create equality.