Policy Flashcards
When was schooling made compulsory for ages 5-13?
1880
What act was introduced in 1944 and what did it do?
The Butler Act which made a tripartite system of grammar schools, secondary moderns and secondary technicals. This allowed working class children the opportunity to attend a grammar school and get a higher paying job.
Give 2 criticisms of the 1944 Butler Act
If working class children fail one test at age 11 they are limited to manual low paying jobs.
It produced gender inequality as when girls began to do better their grade boundaries were made higher.
What did the Labour government of the 1960s introduce? + a disadvantage
Comprehensives to try and overcome the class divide. But it wasn’t compulsory so many local councils maintained the grammar and secondary modern schools.
What would functionalists and marxists say about the comprehensives?
f - they encourage social integration between classes m - streaming in these schools meant that the class divide persisted
What key piece of policy came in 1988 and what did it focus on?
The Education Reform Act focused on marketisation
What were the 5 parts of the ERA IN 1988?
Creation of league tables and OFSTED reports National Curriculum Funding Formula Open Enrolment Selection Process
Which part of the ERA did Rutter support and why?
League tables and OFSTED - he did questionnaires in 12 inner city London school and found that outstanding schools didn’t depend on social background and it gives failing schools a blue print to improve (attainment and attendance etc) while allowing good schools to expand.
Give a criticism of OFSTED
Hawthorne Effect - may not be a valid picture of what the school is actually like
Give a criticism of the national curriculum
That even though everyone is doing the same stuff so it should be equal, the curriculum is much more representative of white history and literature than others.
What is the funding formula?
When schools now get paid a certain amount per pupil so the better schools (from league tables) get more parents enrolling so therefore deserve more money.
Give a criticism of the funding formula
That the schools with less able pupils usually in working class areas are given no opportunity to improve as they suffer cuts and may be forced to close.
What is open enrolment and what 2 things does it lead to?
When successful schools can recruit as many pupils as they want so they can cream skim meaning they can select only the most able middle class students and silt shift where they reject less able working class students.
What are the 4 ways parents can select a school now that Local Education Authorities don’t decide which they attend?
Postcode - by catchment area
Ability - grammar school or private school exams
Aptitude - special skills like sports colleges
Faith - different religious schools
What does David think the ERA has led to?
Parentocracy - where there has been a power shift from schools (producers) to parents (consumers) meaning that successful schools expand and failing schools are forced to up their game raising standards for all
Give a criticism of Parentocracy
Not all parents are equipped to take the power of choosing schools - GERWITZ
Who supports the marketisation of education as it increases consumer choice?
Chubb and Moe - believe all schools should be like private schools which rely on parents’ support to stay open or face closure like unpopular businesses do - this raises standards
How does Gerwitz criticise marketisation and parental choice - what are her 3 parental choosers?
Privileged skilled choosers with cultural and material capital who know how to choose the best schools and can make sure it happens (Middle class)
Semi-skilled choosers who want the best for their children so may be aware of how to choose a good school but do not have the means to make sure they get a place
Disconnected local choosers - who don’t have the knowledge or means and are disconnected from education so just choose the nearest school
Who talks about covert selection as a criticism of marketisation and what is it?
Tough and Brooks - when schools discourage working class parents from applying by making school literature inaccessible, having expensive uniforms or not advertising in those areas so therefore not everyone has an equal chance in picking the best schools
Give 3 difficulties when researching how middle class parents ‘play the selection system’
Some are illegal like buying a fake house in a catchment area so will not be disclosed - less valid
Some methods are hidden like having a friend who is a teacher and can give them tips
The term ‘play the system’ isn’t operationalised and could just be interpreted as wanting the best for your children and being a good parent
When were New Labour in government?
1997-2010
Give the 5 New Labour policies to reduce inequality
Education Action Zones Education Maintenance Allowance Literacy and Numeracy strategies Reduced class sizes Raising leaving age
What are Education Action Zones + a criticism
Children in deprived areas are given extra school resources but this doesn’t really tackle the affects of poverty.
What is the EMA + a criticism
If poor children attended school they would be given up to £30 a week which encourages them to stay in education longer. But this doesn’t mean the children in class are motivated; they are there for the money only.
What were the literacy and numeracy strategies + a criticism
Designating hours to literacy and numeracy in primary schools to improve working class attainment but it was not compulsory
What were the reduced class sizes + a criticism
LEA enforced a limit of 30 pupils in primary school to give more individual teacher attention but this just led to larger classes in secondary school.
