New Right

Question 1

What is neoliberalism?

Answer 1

Belief that the state shouldn’t provide education. Instead education should be run by the school like a business os competition can be generated between schools.

Question 2

New Right and Functionalist views.

SIMILARITIES and DIFFERENCES

Answer 2

New Right agrees with functionalists that some are more talented than others and that there is meritocracy.
NR agree education should be run on meritocratic principles.
NR believes that education socialises pupils with shared norms and values.

DIFFERENCES:
NR believe that education system takes a “one fits all” approach imposing uniformity and disregarding local needs.
NR says that for education to be meritocratic their needs to be more parent choice (parentocracy).

Question 3

CHUBB and MOE - consumer choice theory

Answer 3

State run education in US has failed due to:

• disadvantaged groups underperforming, more competition needed to push all groups to succeed.
• state education is ineffective and few skills produced but with more business approach, allowing more skills to be taught.
• private schools are superior because they answer to the consumers’ needs.

SOLUTION - introducing the market system in state education putting control down to parents. Allowing consumers to shape school to meet their needs and improve quality.

Question 4

EVALUATION: Chubb and Moe

Answer 4

Giving parents more choice may increase social class inequality as not all parents have cultural capital to support their children. 
Middle class parents may benefit more as they can use their power of choice more than working class parents.

Question 5

EVALUATION: New Right perspective

Answer 5

GEWIRTZ and BALL - competition between schools benefit middle class who can use their cultural capital to gain access to better schools.

CRITICS - real cause of low educational standards is social inequality and inadequate state funding.

MARXISTS - education doesn’t improve a shared national culture and devalues working class and ethnic minority groups.

Question 6

MARKETISATION

Advantages and Disadvantages

Answer 6

ADVANTAGES:

• schools have more power and autonomy about who its spend funding.
• sets challenging targets for schools.
• wider choice of schools.
• increase in university attendance.
• improved GCSE and A Level results.

DISADVANTAGES:

• myth of meritocracy (BALL).
• teaching for the test and not developing deeper knowledge.
• selective rather than open enrolment in some schools and universities.