P1 Education - Marketisation

Question 1

What is Marketisation?

Answer 1

This refers to the process of introducing “Market Forces” into areas run by the state , such as NHS or Education.
The Education Reform 1988 created an “Education Market” by:
- Reducing direct state control over education
- Increasing competition between schools
- Increasing parental choice of schools

Question 2

What were the policies to promote Marketisation?

Answer 2

• Publication of schools league tables
• Business sponsorship of schools
• Schools being able to opt out of local authority control
• Schools having to compete to attract pupils
• Ofsted introspection reports available for parents to look at when choosing schools
• More recently academies and free schools

Question 3

What did Gerwitz believe about parental choice?

Answer 3

By increasing parental choice, marketisation advantages middle class parents whose economic and cultural capital puts them in a better positions to choose good schools

Gerwitz studied 14 London secondary schools and how the parents cultural capital influenced their choice of school:
1. Privileged - skilled choosers
2. Disconnected - local choosers
3. Semi - skilled choosers

Question 4

What are criticisms of Marketisation?

Answer 4

1. testing children so often could cause stress
2. League tables could be counterproductive
   - Some schools may not admit to having low achievers
3. parents actually had little choice of schools due to few places and catchment areas
4. Class differences were reinforced by the act
   - Ball argued that middle class parents could play the system and impress in interviews
5. The Funding Formula
   - Funds were awarded per pupil
   - Poorer schools can’t compete
6. The Myth of Meritocracy
   - Marketisation legitimises inequality
   - Ball makes it appear as if all parents have a choice but in reality middle class parents have more choice

Question 5

What was the Labour Educational Policy (1997 - 2010)?

Answer 5

Tony Blair came into power in 1997 and announced that his priorities were “education, education, education”
The policies introduced between 1997 - 2010 translate this into practice.
Labour policies were influenced by Social Democratic and Neoliberalists perspectives.

Question 6

What did the New Labour Government introduce between 1997-2010?

Answer 6

It introduced a number of policies aimed at reducing the inequality of marketisation:
-Education Action Zones
-Aim Higher Programme
-Education Reform Act
-National Literacy Strategy
-City Academies
-Increased funding for state schools

Question 7

What are criticisms of New Labour?

Answer 7

1. Melissa Benn 2012
   -New labour paradox, contradiction between wanting to abolish inequality but they continue to promote marketisation.
   - Despite introducing the Education Reform Act, it was the labour government who introduced higher fees for university education
   - They have never attempted to abolish fee paying private schools