Paper 1 Sociology AQA A-Level Flashcards
Four functions of Education, according to Functionalism:
- Socialisation and social solidarity
- Bridge between family and society
- Developing Human Capital
- Role Allocation
Function 1: Socialisation and social solidarity- DURKHEIM
Education system meets demands of society by passing on culture and values within society, through hidden curriculum and PSHCE lessons. Improves social solidarity as they are taught the values of society.
Function 2: Bridge between family and society- PARSONS
Schools provide links between society and family so they move from an ascribed status and paturalistic values to meritocratic and the univeralistic values of wider society.
Function 3: Developing Human Capital-SCHULTZ
Educational investment benefits wider economy. It provides a qualified and flexible workforce. Education makes sure best and most qualified people end up in highly skilled roles.
Function 4:Role allocation-DAVIS AND MOORE
Education system provides means to selecting and sifting people into social hierarchy. Power, wealth and status directly linked to educational achievement in meritocratic society.
Two Evaluation points for Socialisation and social solidarity
-Ignores dysfunctional aspects of education e.g. negative conflict
- Myth of meritocracy yet there is private education systems
Two Evaluation point for Bridge between family and society
- Marxists: Hidden curriculum: Reinforces social inequality and maintains ruling class ideology
- Feminists: Hidden curriculum: Maintains and reinforces patriarchy not meritocracy
Evalution point for Developing human capital
Wong: Functionalists assume children are passive puppets of socialisation but process complex and they ignore pupil-teacher relationships
Evaluation point for role allocation
Weak link between educational achievement and economic success
New Right view of education
State takes too much of a crucial role in education and marketisation would raise standards.
What does the New Right say school should do?
Schools should compete with one another and parents and pupils should be seen as consumers.
Chubb and Moe
Competition would lead to raising educational standards. Necessary for schools to attract their ‘customers’ by being successful and popular.
One example of New Right influence in educational policy making
> 1980 Vocational Education
1988 Education Reform Act:
* League Tables
* OFSTED
New Labour: Academies
Coalition Government:
* Free schools
* Education privatisation
Four functions of Education, according to Marxists:
> Reproducing social inequality
Legitimising social inequality
Correspondence principal
Myth of Meritocracy
Function 1: Reproducing social inequality-ALTHUSSER
Private education prepares elite children for positions of power.
Hidden curriculum shaped to assist M/C achievement deterring W/C
Function 2: Legitimising social inequality- ALTHUSSER
M/C has access to cultural and economic capital putting them at an advantage.
Education encourages students to accept capitalist values through hidden curriculum
Function 3: Correspondence principal- BOWLES AND GINTIS
Schools mirror world of work to prepare for manual labour e.g. discipline and consequences
Function 4: Myth of meritocracy- BOWLES AND GINTIS
Schools discriminate in favour of M/C.
Hidden curriculum lower W/C ambitions
Evaluation of Marxists: Giroux (Neo-Marxists)
- Reject view that w/c are passive accept position to become compliant workers.
- Existence of anti-school subcultures, truancy and exclusion suggest both the hidden curriculum and correspondence principal have failed
Evaluation of Marxists: Social Democratic
Marxists exaggerate effect education has on working class educational achievement. Policies such a comprehensivisation have improved chances from working class.
Evaluation of Marxists: Neo-Liberals
Saunders claims middle-class educational success is due to biological differences
Evaluation of Marxists: New Right
Chubb and Moe argue Marxists fail to see how education has failed all social groups. They believe education has failed to equip students with necessary skills in global market place.
Evaluation of Marxists: Postmodernism
They fail to acknowledge education reproduces diversity rather than inequality. Morrow and Torres claim students create own identities rather than being constrained by traditional structures like class.
1988 Education Reform Act
All schools teach same core curriculum.
Evaluation of 1988 Education Reform Act
Not suitable for all, it suits the ‘academic’ pupil more.
1965 Comprehensive Education Act
Got rid of 11+ exam and all students would get equality
One school for all
Evaluation of 1965 Comprehensive Education Act
Large comprehensive schools so lack individual attention.
School Admissions Code
Forbids discrimination in pupil admittance on the basis of socio-economic backgrounds/ability
Evaluation of Schools Admissions Code
Covert selection still takes place -> Postcode Lottery
Policies that improve inequality in certain circumstances
Pupil premium: additional funding in schools for students from poor socio-economic backgrounds.
Compensatory education
Evaluation of Policies that improve inequality in certain circumstances
Kerr and West- Too many external factors that impact achievement.
3 types of selection
Selection:
by ability e.g. entrance tests
by aptitude e.g. talents
by faith
Marketisation policies under the Conservative government (1979-97)
League Tables
Local Management Schools
Funding Formula
Open Enrolment
Raising standards policies under the Conservative government (1979-97)
Ofsted
National Curriculum
National Testing
Marketisation policies under the Labour government (1997-2010)
Business sponsored Academies
Specialist schools
Raising standards policies under the Labour government (1997-2010
Maximum class sizes for 5 -7 yr old
Building Schools for the future program
Education Action zones
Business sponsored Academies
Marketisation policies under the Coalition government (2010-15)
New Style Academies
Free Schools
Raising standards policies under the Coalition government (2010-15)
Pupil Premium
English Baccalaureate
Reform of the National Curriculum
Reform of the Exams system
Tougher performance targets for schools
3 features of marketisation
independence, competition, choice
3 elements of quality control
OFSTED, Publication of performance tables, National curriculum
Positives of privatisation in education
More efficient
More choice for parents
Profit making might induce companies to support failing schools
Negatives of privatisation in education
Takes money from the education system.
Business go out of business -leave schools stranded.
Less equality
Evaluation of Marketisation and Raising standards policies: Myth of Parentocracy
Parents do not have equal freedom to choose the schools which their child attends due to covert selection process, postcode lotteries in catchment areas, Middle class parents have much more freedom in choice due to their cultural capital, higher education and income.
Evaluation of Marketisation and Raising standards policies: Educational triage
Teachers tend to allocate more resources to the students who are on the C/D boarder line in order to achieve the 5 A* -C needed for the league tables thus ignoring those who are unlikely to achieve this.
Evaluation of Marketisation and Raising standards policies: Reduced quality control
Ofsted is not as independent as it appears with government and politicians interfering with the process by changing the standards and goal posts.
Evaluation of Marketisation and Raising standards policies: Dumbing Down
Marketisation and Raising standards policies: Dumbing Down
Due to the funding formula, schools need to retain and attract students in order to receive funding. Schools will therefore lead to the dumbing down of teaching and standards in order to retain students who might leave if they are pushed too hard or if the courses are too difficult.
Impact of globalisation on education
Increased competition for Jobs meaning that schools have to change the curriculum to meet new needs e.g. Computer Science.
Global ICT companies such as Apple and Google creating online resources and curriculums.
Increased multiculturalism in schools and decline of the ethnocentric curriculum
Increased competition between schools and universities for students.
Global rankings used to compare and contrast systems and raise standards.
Increased risk and safeguarding issues for schools -e.g. Cyber bullying, PREVENT and Anti Radicalisation.
What is the labelling theory?
Teachers often label pupil that has little to do with their actual ability or aptitude. They form an opinion of the student based on how close the students fit the ideal pupil. Becker suggests that teacher/ pupil interactions are based upon these labels and can lead to a self fulfilling prophecy where the students take on the label and act accordingly.