New Right

Question 1

Role & Function 1:
Improve standards through reducing state involvement & increasing a Parentocracy
LEAGUE TABLES and OFSTED

Answer 1

LEAGUE TABLES -
The conservative party introduced League tables as part of a series of education reforms that began in the 1980s, including the Education Reform Acts of 1988.
The tables are annually published and summarise average performance of pupils in state-funded secondary schools.
Based on the General Certificate of secondary Education (GCSE), purpose of the tables to measure schools performance and progress

OFSTED -
Introduced by conservative party, 80s and 90s, aimed to quality assure schools and colleges to check that a base level of education in ALL schools and colleges were being transferred to ALL students
Gave parents more choice where to send their child.

Question 2

Role & Function 2:
Promote traditional “Conservative values” and tries to promote / enforce a “shared (British) culture”
SECTION 28 OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1988 and BRITISH VALUES

Answer 2

SECTION 28 OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT -
The law was introduced under conservative prime minister Margret Thatcher claiming that “children should be taught more traditional mortal values…”
Law linked to the 1980s AIDS crisis, disproportionately affected gay men.
Associated HIV/AIDS with gay and bisexual men
BRITISH VALUES - the conservative government introduced policies and initiatives to promote British values. Light on the increasing number of terror attacks in the UK.

Question 3

Role & Function 3:
Encourage values of competition & meritocracy
MURRAY

Answer 3

Education in the US had become too ‘romantic’ and has neglected the simple realities of pupils’ ability
An attempt to make education more fair and egalitarian, education has lost its sense of meritocracy, failing those who are most gifted.

Argued education asks ‘too much’ from students at the bottom of the intellectual pile, wrong things from those in the middle, asks too little from those on top, too many people going to university

Education should be essentially tougher and more challenging, promote meritocracy, many will not be successful in education

Question 4

Role & Function 4:
Transmits and teaches vocational skills Vocationalism (YTS, NVQs and GNVQs)

Answer 4

YTS - Youth Training Scheme - Linked to ‘rioting’ and aim to offer training to NEETS (young people not in education) - if young people did not accept this training their benefits would be taken away from them

NVQs - Qualification that is offered on the job training that offers practical skills - not seen in the same light as academic qualifications. Popular with trade jobs e.g. plumber, electrician, carpenter

GNVQs - Training in key sectors and aimed to offer academic knowledge as well as practical skills. Enable students to develop skills for the workplace e.g. health and social care.