Practice Questions

Question 1

Outline criticisms of Labelling theory

Answer 1

• Reductionist- narrows the complexity of a pupil by fitting them into broad categories such as “high ability”, “low ability” and “deviant”
• Deterministic - fails to take in account that pupils have the will to reject their label as proven by Fuller. Furthermore, it Fails to explain why teachers label
• attributes too much importance to “teachers agency”. In fact, Marxist would argue that the education system encourages teachers to label, e.g. entry test pre-label students into ability group & teachers required to demonstrate they are providing “extra support” for “low ability” students - all which they have no control over

Question 2

Outline ways in which education policies have attempted to raise educational standards

Answer 2

• The Marketisation of Education has resulted in schools competing amongst each other to attract pupils and parents. As parents possess greater powers of choice, it has driven schools to raise standards in order to attract
• Class size have been reduced to 30 and this raises standards as it increases the attention pupils receive from teachers, minimizes disruptions, increase quality of interaction between pupils and teachers and enable teachers to employ tailored schoolwork to their pupils
• Ofsted report holds schools accountable for their action because it establishes a clear framework schools should operate on and use this benchmark to inspect schools regularly
• National Curriculum ensured that all pupils irrespective of their cultural background received the same quality of education by learning the same content and receiving the same materials

Question 3

Outline ways in which educational policies has introduced market in education

Answer 3

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Question 4

Outline, Explain, & Evaluate Functionalist perspectives on Education.

Answer 4

the overarching theme of functionalism on education is that it performs functions that help maintain society as a whole.

Durkheim identified 2 main functions of education as being social solidarity and skills. He argues that society needs a sense of social social - where people feel they’re part of a community- as without which, social life and cooperation will be impossible because everyone would pursue their own selfish desires. Henceforth, education helps to create social solidarity by transmitting society’s culture - it’s shared values & belief - from one generation to the next. For example, teaching’s of a countries history instill children with a sense of shared heritage and a commitment to the wider social groups. Similarly,

Question 5

Outline, explain, evaluate Marxist views on education

Answer 5

Word doc. Eduction revision ans