marketisation and education

Question 1

marketisation

Answer 1

introduced 1988 education reform act

conservative government - thatcher

market forces in education

competition (league tables) consumer choice (who can choose?)

power to parents rather than teachers and schools - parentocracy

continued by 1997 labour government

2010 - further steps such as academies and free schools

favoured by new right as makes schools raise standards to attract ‘customers’ in competition

Question 2

features of marketisation

Answer 2

publication of exam results & ofsted reports

business sponsorship of schools

open enrolment - no catchment

specialist schools - to widen parental choice

funding per pupil - same for all

can opt out of lea - become academies

schools compete to attract pupils

parents can set up free schools

tuition fees for higher education

Question 3

reproduction of inequality

Answer 3

criticised by ball and whitty

league tables
- high achieving schools can be more selective
- lower position schools unable to be selective
- cream-skimming and silt-shifting

funding formula
- better schools: more funding and better teachers and facilities
- unpopular schools: lose income; difficult to match skills

Question 4

gerwitz - parental choice

Answer 4

middle-class parents advantaged by choice - linked to their economic and cultural capital

disconnected-local choosers - working class - lack cultural capital

semi-skilled choosers -ambitious working class - limited with cultural capital

privileged-skilled choosers professional middle class - possess cultural capital

Question 5

myth of parentocracy

Answer 5

marketisation reproduces and legitimates inequality.

ball - only appears to be choice - cultural capital determines the amount.

gewirtz - middle class can take advantage

leech and campos: middle class can afford to move closer to better schools

parentocracy appears to make the system fair but is a myth.

Question 6

new labour and inequality

Answer 6

much of new labour’s policy built on previous initiatives but some key themes:
- widening diversity and choice
- raising standards and addressing underachievement
- reforming the post-compulsory sector

policies included:
- education action zones - increased funding
- aim higher
- ema to support low-income students
- national literacy strategy
- creation of academies where schools failing
- increased funding

Question 7

criticisms of new labour

Answer 7

cost of education
· ema to help with further education
· but still fees for higher education

grammar and fee paying schools
. inequality
. new labour didn’t abolish them

marketisation
. maintains inequality
. supported by new labour