New right role of education Flashcards
NEW RIGHT THINKING ON
EDUCATION INCLUDES:
Introduce ‘Market Forces’ The MARKETISATION
of schools – encouraging competition.
Reduce power of LEA’s – more power to schools
Freedom of CHOICE for consumer – makes the
market more competitive.
To enhance the role of business in school.
A greater focus on school inspection to ensure
rising standards in all state schools.
1988 EDUCATION REFORM
ACT
This act was the major break from all
previous educational policies – it is the
landmark for the new educational system
we use today.
EDUCATION REFORM ACT
Introduction of National Curriculum
Introduction of inspection – OFSTED
Testing – League tables
Market forces - Competition
Vocationalism – job based study
Local Management of Schools (LMS)
THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM
This was the first time the
‘National Curriculum’ was
introduced.
This took power away from
the schools and teachers as
they previously had authority
over what was taught.
Government told state
schools what should be
taught.
THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM evaluation
Strengths:
Every school
studying the
same
Every child had
the same
education.
Weaknesses:
Didn’t stretch pupils
Wasn’t ‘national’ as
private schools and
academies did not
and still do not use
this.
MANAGEMENT
Local Management of
Schools (LMS)
Schools have a greater
control of their budgets
Employment
Budget
Resources
This took the power away
from the local governments
and LEAs (Local Education
Authority e.g. Education
Bradford).
TESTING
Testing resulted in a wealth of data that was used to
create league tables
Compare schools
Measure changes
Can be used by the government to see what schools are
achieving and what schools are failing
Parents can use this data when choosing schools for their
children
LEAGUE TABLES
Weaknesses:
Only show raw data
Ignores background
of the students
Class
Behavioral problems
Don’t get the full pic
beyond academic
achievements.
Strengths:
Lets parents see
which school is
better.
Promotes
competition.
Measure changes
They create inequality
of opportunity
Middle Class parents
snap up those places at
‘good’ schools by
superior access to
cultural capital (better
knowledge of system
such as entry
procedures).
THE CONSERVATIVE ERA 1979 - 97
The Conservative new way of thinking was picked up
by Blair in 1997 and choice was extended.
With the development of specialist schools and faith
schools.
Specialist schools?
Faith schools – More choice? Or
Segregation of faiths – schools are
able to be more selective purely
based on faith.
Specialist schools – e.g. –
“Technology College” or “Sports
College”. Good more funding but
specialism may not match child’s
ability. Schools allowed to choose
10% of intake based on specialism.
New Diplomas 2008 – More choice
for students who prefer the
vocational route.
AIMS/ROLE OF STATE IN EDUCATION
Raise standards – education needs to provide
skilled people who can contribute to jobs in the
economy
Impose a framework on schools to measure their
progress – National Curriculum, exams result,
league tables, ofsted all show parent show how well
a school is doing
Transmitting shared culture - National
Curriculum – school should socialise kids into a
shared heritage e.g. emphasize ‘British values’,
teach British history/authors. Christian act of
worship in schools – they oppose multicultural
education
SOLUTION: MARKETISATION
Make schools compete to raise standards (get
better exam grades and therefore have more
skilled workers)
Using business principles from private sector in
schools
Competition means that schools and teachers
have to be more efficient and more effective
otherwise the ‘consumers’ (parents and students)
will not choose their school e.g. ofsted, league
tables, formula funding
CHUBB & MOE
The problem with education is it has not created equality
of opportunity, it is inefficient as pupils don’t come out
with qualifications needed by the economy
Private schools are more successful because they are
accountable to parents who are paying consumers
They propose introducing a voucher system. Each parent
receives a voucher to spend at the school of their choice.
This would force schools to respond to what parents
want. Schools who receive the most vouchers have
attracted the most students. This is called formula
funding (the more students that choose the school, the
more money it gets)
Concepts
Conservative government – introduced the idea of ‘competition and
choice’ – believe schools were failing students
Marketisation – introducing market forces such as supply and
demand into schools like the way businesses operate (advertising &
promoting schools)
Competition & choice – Conservative & labour support this idea that
schools should compete for students and there should be a choice of
varying schools
Thatcher – leader of conservatives from 1979 – introduced the
Education Reform Act (ofsted, league tables, national curriculum)
ERA – introduced by the conservatives – brought out Ofsted,
National Curriculum, League Tables etc.
School Voucher System – idea by Chubb &Moe to give vouchers to
students to ‘spend’ at the school of their choice i.e. the best schools
will receive the most vouchers so will have the best facilities & will
fill their quota of students.
Evaluation
The New Right do recognise that education links
to the economy.
They do offer a clear solution to problems in
education.
Marxists argue competition between schools only
benefits the middle class- they are the ones who
will actually be able to choose the school they
want.
