Meritocracy, Social Class Differences (initial set-up)

Question 1

Is Britain a Meritocracy? (Yes)

Answer 1

Functionalists eg Parsons suggest that social inequality is based on meritocracy+equality of educational opportunity. M. is having equal opportunity to develop talents+abilities and achieve qualifications.
The evidence for this is that for most people their talents+abilities are measured through educational qualifications.

Question 2

Is Britain a Meritocracy? (No)

Answer 2

Evidence suggests Britain is not meritocratic as the link between educational qualifications and pay levels is relatively weak.
Marxists argue the education system reproduces existing class, ethnic and gender inequalities. The evidence is that even for students of the same ability, there is variation in attainment, linked to social class as well as gender and ethnicity.

Question 3

Social Class Differences- FSM as a Proxy

Answer 3

There is no easily available data on social class origins of pupils/their parents so FSM are used as a proxy. Children entitled to FSM are from low-income houses and so are from a lower social class.

Question 4

Social Class Differences- Limitations of FSM as a Proxy

Answer 4

Many pupils entitled to FSM don’t claim them out of fear of being stigmatised or bullied, so it may be an underestimate.

Question 5

Social Class Differences- Relationship Between Social Class and Educational Attainment

Answer 5

Perry and Francis (2010), say that social class is the strongest predictor of educational attainment in the UK.
Michael Gove (2010), said that ‘Rich thick kids do better than poor, clever children’. The higher the social class of parents, the greater educational attainment.
Waldfogel and Washbrook (2010), using data from the Millenium Cohort Survey (2007, 12,644 children), found that disadvantaged children were up to a year behind by 3, before starting school.

Question 6

Social Class Differences- Working Class vs Middle Class (same ability, points 1-4)

Answer 6

1. More likely to start school unable to read
2. Do less well in National Curriculum Tests (NCTs or SATs)
3. Less likely to get a place in the best state schools, 2012, 8% of pupils at top 500 recieved FSM- national average of 17%
4. More likely to be in lower sets.

Question 7

Social Class Differences- Working Class vs Middle Class (same ability, points 5-8)

Answer 7

5. Get poorer exam results, third> with 5 or more A*-C GCSEs, compared to 3/4
6. More likely to leave school at 16, 50% stay on, compared to 90%.
7. More likely to take vocational courses over AS or A Levels.
8. Less likely to go into higher education. 2008, 70% in h.e middle class, only 50% of population. Unskilled backgrounds only 5% in h.e. FSM at 15, 20% went to h.e, compared to 40% of non-FSM.