SECTION B: Social Democratic on education

Question 1

Social Democratic view:

Answer 1

They believe that education should be a key concept for promoting equality of opportunity in a meritocratic system.

Question 2

Professor A.H Halsey:

Answer 2

• Influence government policies between 1944 and 1979.
• Approach is concerned with shaping government educational policies to ensure everyone has an equal chance to succeed in education.

Question 3

Equality of opportunity:

Answer 3

• Believe in equality of opportunity in education and meritocracy.
• After the 1944 Education Act, class differences persisted with middle class children achieving better results. More likely to go uni than working class children.

Question 4

Education and Economic Growth:

Answer 4

• Social Democratic are in favour of increased government spending on education.
• Leading to more highly trained workforce which will enable the British economy to compete more effectively with other countries in a global market.

Question 5

Policies introduced by social democrats:

Answer 5

• From 1965 onwards the Labour Government attempted to promote the comprehensive school system and secondary education.
• Argued that it was more likely to offer equality of opportunity, than the selective system that appeared to favour middle class children.

Question 6

Tony Blair: Former UK Prime Minister:

Answer 6

• Between 1997 and 2010 the Labour government invested heavily in expanding higher education.
• This was based on the idea that the UK economy could only compete on a global scale if it had a highly skilled workforce.