raising standards Flashcards
Conservative 1979-1997 - Raising standards
Education Reform Act 1988 and New vocationalism
ERA (National Curriculum) - Standardised education for all with aim of raising standards. Raising standards to a certain level.
New vocationalism - Opportunities for working class people to gain a qualification / route into work at post-16 meant raised standards for this cohort, who don’t achieve academically.
Labour 1997-2010 - Raising standards
14-19 Diploma and City Academies
14-19 Diploma - Range of qualifications in different ‘lines of learning’. Alternative qualification to help qualify those who did not achieve ‘academically’ - standards raised for these students.
City Academies - Failing schools apply for academy status and gain funding. Raising the quality and standards of education in urban/deprived areas.
Coalition 2010-2015 - Raising standards
Free schools and Adaption of Academies
Free schools - Introduced in areas ‘where they are needed’ – Raising standards for students in this area.
Adaption of academies - Changes to Academies – Schools graded ‘Outstanding’ can apply. Aim is to raise standards as institutions strived towards this.
Coard - Not raising standards
Ethnic minority standards
Argues that the National Curriculum is ‘ethnocentric’ - Meaning that it focuses on White British History / culture - These leads to ethnic minority students feeling that their culture is devalued and unimportant.
Davis and Moore - Not raising standards
Functionalist view
Education helps to sift and sort students into the most suitable roles - Role Allocation – Those who work hard are rewarded with the most functional, therefore most highly rewarded jobs.
Usher et al - Not raising standards
Postmodernist view
Difficult to adequately test if standards have been raised as standardised testing does not suit wide range of leaners and their abilities.
