Raising standards of education POLICY

Question 1

Education Reform Act 1988 (Conservative - New Right)

Answer 1

Raise education standards by creating competition between schools.

National Curriculum:

Provide a standardized education for all students to ensure a minimum level of education.

Sats:

SATs assessed student progress and the quality of education delivered by schools.

League table:
By creating competition among schools to rank highly and attract more students.

Ofsted:
inspect and publish reports on school quality, holding them accountable.

Question 2

Curriculum 2000 (Labour - Social Democratic)

Answer 2

Curriculum 2000?

To raise standards by letting students learn content in more depth through modular study.
Flashcard 7:

A-Level structure changed under Curriculum 2000?

Split into AS and A2 levels, with exams in January and June to ease workload.

How did Curriculum 2000 aim to help working-class students?

By making post-16 education more accessible and achievable.

Question 3

📚 Adaptation of Academisation 2010 (Coalition - New Right)

Answer 3

What change to academies was proposed by the Coalition in 2010?

Allow ‘Outstanding’ schools to become academies, not just ‘Inadequate’ ones.

How did academisation aim to raise standards?

By giving schools more funding and autonomy, encouraging them to innovate and excel.

What funding change occurred with academisation?

Funding came directly from central government, bypassing Local Education Authorities (LEAs).

Question 4

📚 GCSE & A-Level Reforms 2015 (Coalition - New Right)

Answer 4

What was the key change in GCSE and A-Level reforms in 2015?

Courses became linear, assessed mainly by final exams.

What happened to AS and A2 levels under the 2015 reforms?

They were decoupled; AS no longer counted towards A-Level grades.

What role did universities play in the 2015 reforms?

They had greater input into the design of new, more rigorous A-Level content.