new right (role and function of education)

Question 1

what are the 4 new right theories for the role and function of education + the key thinker

Answer 1

1. Improve Standards Through Reducing State Involvement & Increasing Parentocracy (league tables + ofsted)
2. Promote Traditional Conservative Values (section 28 of local government act 1988)
3. Encourage Values of Competition & Meritocracy (murray)
4. Encourage Vocational Skills(YTS NVQ, GNVQ)

Question 2

who supports the idea that ‘education improves standards through reducing state involvement and increasing a parentocracy’ + their ideas

new right

Answer 2

LEAGUE TABLES AND OFSTED
* believes that there is a state monopoly on education
* creates a system where theres no competitive edge and no reason for institutuions to improve.
* the education reform act (1988) reflect new right ideals & introduced league tables and ofsted
* league tables- ranking systems of schools on attainment/attendance/number of students
* ofsted- inspectors that rank school/college

Question 3

who supports the idea that ‘education promotes traditional conservative values’ + their ideas

new right

Answer 3

GOVERNMENT ACT 1988
* conservative govs have tried to influence the core curriculum to promote traditional, conservative, social & cultural values
* based on importance of a nuclear/hetrosexual family
* section 28 of local government act 1988
* prohibited the ‘promotion of hetrosexuality’
* schools couldnt intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material
* in place until 2000

Question 4

who supports the idea that ‘education encourages vocational skills’ + their ideas

new right

Answer 4

in a global economy, uk needs to create a skilled workforce to compete with other countries
* NEW VOCATIONALISM = introduction of youth training systems, NVQ’S, GNVQ’S aimed at NEETS to gain skills and employment
* YTS (youth training scheme)= introduced in the 1980s- offered to youths not in educcation but they have to trade their benifits for it (aim to encourage a skilled workplace)
* NVQ’S = a job training- not seen in the same light as academic qualifications- popular in trade jobs

Question 5

who supports the idea that ‘education encourages values of competition & meritocracy’ + their ideas

new right

Answer 5

MURRAY
* ‘real education’ argued that education in the US has become too ‘romantic’ and has neglected the realities of pupils abilities
* in attempts to make education more fair, education has lost sense of meritocracy- failing those who are gifted
* too many people at uni
* society is fundimentaly dependent on the well educated and academically gifted
* education should be more challenging to promote meritocracy.