P1 Education - Educational Policy 2010 Onwards Flashcards
What was the Coalition Conservative Government on May 10?
Coalition (an agreed governing body between more than one party) Conservative and liberal democrat being the dominant party, their view are more strongly represented in the educational policy.
What views is the Coalition party based on that makes an outstanding school?
- Independence - the freedom for head teachers and staff to develop teaching strategies and styles best suited to their students
- Accountability - to parents rather than local authorities
- Competition - between schools will drive up standards. Successful schools will expand and failing schools will go to the wall.
- Diversity and Choice - real choice requires diversity, a range of different schools to choose from (Neo liberal views)
Why were Acadamies designed?
They were designed to replace under performing secondary schools in low income areas. The coalition policies for academies were much more ambitious.
What were the two types of Academies?
- Sponsored Academies - instructed to become one by the Dfe because they are failing
- Converter Academies - open choice to become one
What was the result of Academies?
- Improvements can be seen in GCSE results by becoming an academy.
- But comparison of academies and non academies in disadvantaged areas show no difference to their level of improvement showing money is one of the main issues.
What were free schools?
This was a new approach, rather than replacing existing schools, they form new ones. The first free school opened in 2011, the aim was to:
- Increase diversity by offering more parental choice
- Increase competition in order to drive up standards.
What did Micheal Gove argue about free schools?
He argued that free schools will provide a greater opportunity for children to learn and develop in the way that’s best for them.
Although free schools are seen to be beneficial for all children, additional funding is provided for free schools in disadvantaged areas.
What are features of free school?
- Non profit making state funded school
- Independent form the LEA
- Subject to Ofsted
- Do not have to follow the National Curriculum
- Do have to teach English Maths and Science
- Teachers do not have to have teaching qualifications
- Set up in response to what local people want and need
- A range of groups can set up free schools, teachers, charities, universities, charities, faith groups, parents and businesses
- Between 2010 - 2015 over 400 free schools were approved for opening by the coalition.
What was the result of Free Schools?
- There’s no evidence that free schools improved standards
- In some areas free schools are competing against good neighbouring schools where there are already sufficient places to meet the local need. Could lead to a drop in funding for existing schools and can have a negative impact on pupils
What was the Education Maintenance Allowance?
Financial support to eligible 16 to 19 year olds who want to continue learning
When was Education Maintenance Allowance removed and what was it replaced with?
2011 - it was replaced with the Bursary fund worth only £180 million opposed to the £560 million of EMA.
What happened to tuition fees in 2012?
Limits were raised to £9000, which was 3x the previous limit (rapidly growing student numbers and an increasing competitive market).
However applications from low income families grew but mature students decreased. This is argued as a continuing and concerning gap between less advantage and advantaged backgrounds.
What does a mature student mean?
An adult student who attends university or college some years after leaving school.
What was Pupil Premium?
- It was introduced in 2011, where there was additional payment made to schools based on the number of free school meal students enrolled. - - This forms part of the coalitions Social Mobility strategy, recognising that income and social class of parents continue to have a huge bearing on a child’s chances.
