Social policies Flashcards
What was the education act 1944?
Provided free secondary education for all and created the tripartite system
What is the tripartite system?
Aims to award children based on their ability and to help breakdown some of the class barriers that existed in society
Bright children from WC backgrounds could theoretically win a place at a grammar school.
System also believed to be good because children were taught their ability and surrounded by other children of the same academic standard
So the less able would not hold back the brightest students
What are grammar schools in the tripartite system?
20% of children
Selected through 11+
O levels and levels
Preparation for university and professional roles
What are secondary technical in the tripartite system?
5% of children
Art/creative subjects
Preparation for creative industries
What are secondary modern schools in the tripartite system?
75% of children
Limited qualifications
Preparation for semi skilled and low skilled jobs
Why did the conservative introduce the 11+ exam?
Pushed forward by Theresa may
Introduce a new generation of grammar schools which they consider will support social mobility
What are criticisms of the tripartite system?
11+ did not really measure ability
Measure of cultural capital, the tests reflected a middle class view of the world.
11 was too young to measure ability and ignore the fact that some children flourish academically later on
No parity of esteem between grammar schools and secondary moderns
Fewer places were provided for girls and they had to score higher in the 11+
System was socially divisive, grammar schools were predominantly middle class and secondary moderns were working class
What do functionalist argue about the role of comprehensives?
Fulfils essential functions such as social integration and meritocratic selection for future work roles
What did Ford argue about comprehensive schools? (functionalist)
Promotes social integration by bringing together children from different social classes together.
What do marxists argue about the role of comprehensives?
Serves interests of capitalism
Reproduces and legitimises class inequality, makes unequal achievement seem fair and just. Failure looks like it is the fault of the individual not the system.
Reproduces class inequality from one generation to the next through the continuation of practice of streaming and labelling.
What are criticism of comprehensive schools?
Conservatives argued that comprehensives lowered standards by undermining excellent academic education offered in grammar schools
Seen to have poor discipline
Less successful at stretching able working class students and contributing to social mobility
Simply reproduced social class divisions, thought setting and streaming.
