Social Policy Flashcards
1944 The Butler Education Act
> children treated equally- equality of opportunity
-THE TRIPARTITE SYSTEM
secondary education for all- selection of ability
grammar, technical, secondary modern
- meritocratic/ social mobility
X not many technical grammar schools
X MC could afford to pay for private tutoring in order to pass the 11plus exams
1965 Comprehensive Education
- all students attend same type of school
- no entrance exams- based on catchment area
X dominated by 1 class
X schools still setting and streaming#
HARGREAVES - ‘inequality is hidden under one roof’
1979 Vocational Education
- training for work
VE= completed in schools
VT= qualifications completed in workplace
COHEN- created ‘cheap labour’ for employers
FINN- hidden political agenda- covers unemployment stats
1988 Education Reform Act
- competition within schools - formula funding
> OFSTEED, national curriculum, MARKETISATION - educational triage, cream-skim & silt-shift
BALL AND GERWITZ- parentocracy is a myth- MC/ CC
1997 New Labour policies
-remained committed to marketisation
> Education Action Zone, sure start, EMA, lower class sizes, city academies
X pay for higher education
X increased use of league tables
X encourage choice- parentocracy
X specialist schools
2010 Coalition Policies
ACADEMISATION
BALL- education system has become dismembered and an patchwork of uneven and unequal provision
> staff pay, school day, save more money, keep good teacher, freedom
X only allowed successful schools to join
X no longer a ‘fresh start’
2015 Conservatives
> free school meals, pupil premium
X cuts to education budget- reduce state spending
BALL- fragmented centralisation- decline in role of local authorities
X austerity programme- sure start closed, EMA abolished
Present Day
5-16 free education
- independent schools, comprehensive schools, grammar, faith, academy , free
- more emphasis on apprenticeships
- guidance in mobile phones
What are the some examples of admission policies for schools?
- catchment area (comprehensive)
- siblings (all)
- religious belief (faith)
- entry test
- application quality (private)
- ability to pay (public/private)
- specific talent
What are left wing political ideologies?
Social democratic perspective
- equality in education system
- equal opportunity regardless of social background (meritocracy)
LABOUR
What are right wing political ideologies?
Neo-liberal perspective
- rolling back the state
- encourage privatisation
- free market
- competition improves standards
CONSERVATIVE
1944 ED butler act
What were the 3 types of schools?
TRIPARTITE SYSTEM
Grammar schools
Technical schools
Secondary modern schools
What is a grammar school?
For the academically able, those who passed the 11 plus
What is a technical school?
Students who failed the 11 plus, but excelled in technical subjects, classes here emphasised vocational skills e.g. engineering
What is a secondary modern school?
Designed for all other students who failed the 11+
What are some advantages of the tripartite system?
- education ‘catered’ to the students ability
- meritocratic in principle
- gave intelligent poorer students a chance of higher education
- helped encourage social mobility
What are some disadvantages of the tripartite system?
- MC could pay for their child to get support for the 11+
- not many technical schools built
- created conflict between MC n WC (went to separate schools)
- students saw themselves as failures if they didn’t get into grammar schools ( parity of self esteem)
- economic problems (decline of university applicants)
- 11+ Qs are culturally bias favouring the MC
1965 Comprehensive ed
How is the selection process for comprehensive educations different to the process under the tripartite system?
There are no entrance exams
A way of selecting a school was down to where you lived also known as catchment area
Why did the conflict between MC and WC still exist after comprehensive education was introduced?
-Schools continued setting and streaming which limited the social classes from mixing as the MC tended to be in higher sets
- Catchment areas were also dominated by one class meaning each school has a majority
How do functionalists and Marxists disagree in their views on comprehensive schools?
F- good for integration and are meritocratic
M- still reproduces inequality through sets
HARGREAVES- hasn’t disappeared it is just under one roof
1979 Vocational Act
What is vocationalism?
Preparing pupils for working life- training for work
V education- qualifications completed in schools- BTECs
V training- completed in workplace e.g. garage
How has vocationalism in the 1970s/80s been criticised?
People believe that vocational courses are lesser of a qualification which has created a huge stigma
How does Marxist Cohen criticise Vocationalism?
1984, claimed the real purpose of vocational training is to create ‘cheap labour’ for employers
What 3 things does Marxist Finn say about Vocationalism?
They had a hidden political agenda
1- undermines the power of trade unions
(only permanent workers could join)
2- used to cover up embarrassing employment stats
3- intended to help reduce crime by getting young people off the streets
WC pushed into vocational courses
What was the purpose of the 1988 Education Reform act?
To raise the quality of teaching the government introduced competition within schools
MARKETISATION
- changed the way they were funded
- no guaranteed lump sum
- depend on the amount of students who attended
- formula funding
- parentocracy
What did the gov introduce to help parents choose which school to send their child to?
- ofsted n league tables
- national curriculum was also introduced
How has the Ed Reform act n marketisation policies been criticised?
EDUCATIONAL TRIAGE
- cream skim n silt shift
- become sink schools
- funding is cut
How do Ball and Gerwitz criticised Ed Reform Act?
Parentocracy is a myth
- MC parents privileged skilled choosers who have more social, economic, cultural capital
- better able to take advantage of these choices
- not all parents have freedom to choose
What did the 1977 New Labour policies remain committed to?
Marketisation
Third way- influenced by both Social Democrat left-winger and Neo-liberal right wing
Advantages of New Labour policies?
- Education Action Zones
- The Aim higher Programme
- National literacy/numeracy strategy
- Increase funding to state education
Disadvantages of New Labour policies?
- being committed to marketisation
- tuition fees for higher education
- didn’t abolish fee-paying private schools nor remove their charitable status
What did Ball say had happened due to academisation?
Education system is being dismembered
- unpicking the national system of state schooling
- lots of types of schools, state, faith, studio
- patchwork of uneven and unequal provision that existed to the prior 1870 education act
What happens in Academies?
Independent, state-funded schools who receive funding directly from central gov rather than a local authority
- more freedom over finances, curriculum, teacher pay etc
Why did Labour create academies?
designed to improve struggling schools, primarily in deprived areas
- give a fresh start, local business had to contribute to new schools
What did the Coalition government do with academies?
Ditched the requirement for a sponsor, could have a selection process
Only allowed successful schools to join together
‘outstanding schools’
What are the advantages of a school becoming an academy?
- they can save money and buy services they need more cheaply
- upping their budget by 10%
- freedom of staff pay to keep and attract good teachers
- control over the school day
What was the principle behind he Coalition government?
To reduce the role of the state by turning comprehensive schools into academies or setting up free schools (run by private businesses or parents)
This is by funding schools from central government rather than local authorities
How many secondary schools have converted into academies today?
By 2021, over 78% of secondary schools
Now- 80%
What is a free shcool?
- Brand new schools
- Not pre-existing
A free school is funded directly by the state but are set u and run by parents, teachers, faith organisations, or businesses rather than the local authority
What are the benefits of a free school?
- improved educational standards
- gives parents and teachers to create a new school if they are unhappy with the state schools in their local area
- parental power in charge of their own budget
What are the disadvantages of free schools?
- MC parents have more cultural capital
- Allen- Sweden study- only benefit children from highly educated families
- socially divisive and lower standards
- to raise standards, use selection policies
- 12% of pupils entitled to free school meals
- take fewer disadvantaged students than nearby schools
What does fragmentation mean?
The comprehensive system being replaced by a patchwork of diverse provision
- more private providers, more inequality of opportunities
What does centralisation mean?
Central gov has power to control
- allow/require schools to become academies or allow free schools to be setup
- reduced role of authorities
What 5 Coalition government policies have led to greater inequality?
1- Free school meals
2- Austerity programme
3- Academies
4- Marketisation and privatisation
5- Pupil Premium
Free schools
More selective so disadvantaged students have less access and opportunity
- higher class parents have more control and educational knowledge benefiting those with highly educated parents
Austerity programme
Spending on education areas have been cut
- sure start closed
- EMA abolished
- £9,000 uni fees
All discourage WC pupils
Academies
Removed focus on reducing inequalities
Marketisation and Privatisation
Benefit higher social classes
What 2 Coalition policies have led to great equality?
1- Free school meals
- all children in reception, Y1, Y2
2- The pupil premium
- money that schools receive for each pupil from a disadvantaged background
2015- Present day stats
- 8% cut in education funding
- move to ebacc
- exams more difficult
- more free schools
- widespread academisation
- T-levels, removal of BTEC
- more grammar schools
- focus on literacy and reading
- advances British standard
- widen apprenticeships available to all jobs
SOCIAL CLASS COMPENSATORY POLICIES
- Education Action Zones
- Free school meals
- Pupil Premium
- Sure start
- Magic Breakfast
- Ed Maintenance Allowance
- labour style academies
GENDER COMPENSATORY POLICIES
- WISE, GIST
- Dads n Sons campaign
- The equal opportunity policy
- 1975 Sex discrimination act
- Introduction of coursework
- Aim higher programme
ETHNICITY COMPENSATORY POLICIES
- Pupils Premium
- National literacy strategy
- Recruitment campaign
- Equal opportunity policy
X National curriculum- ethnocentric
X marketisation less selection of EMG - Aim higher programme
What are independent schools?
Not run or paid by the government
Parents pay money to schools that are run as businesses
What is a faith school?
Schools run by a particular religion rather than by the gov. They have to follow the national curriculum but can choose what to teach in religious education
What is a comprehensive school?
These are non-selective, state-funded schools under the control of a gov. Not influenced by religious or business groups. Tend to be quite large.
What is a grammar school?
State-funded schools, but select most of the pupils based on academic ability, usually have an exam to get in.
What is an academy?
State schools that get funded directly by gov rather than local council. Run by individual charitable bodies called academy trusts.
What is a free school?
Type of academy, non-profit making, state-funded school, not controlled by LA instead governed by non-profit, charitable trust
What is Endogenous privatisation?
Within education (private businesses)
e.g. formula funding, competition, academisation
- parents are more selective because of ofsted, league tables
What are the positives of endogenous privatisation?
- more choice for parents
- profits motivate and encourage to be better
- more business-like efficient schools
What is Exogenous privatisation?
Private from outside the education system
- companies involved with day-to-day working of a school
e.g. sponsorship, equipment, buildings
EXO
What is a PFI scheme?
A private company build a building for you and then you rent it from then. At the end of it you own it as you pay it off.
What were tribal inspections responsible for and why are they no longer used?
They were companies which inspected schools but they were outsourced from ofsted
- quality of inspections and employers were not good
- practise inspection
Other exogenous privatisation examples
- priv companies to manage food and employ chefs (taylor shaw)
- buying training for staff
- examination system, exam boards e.g. Pearson, compete for entries
What is an advantage of exogenous privatisation?
- schools become more efficient as schools as companies survive by improving high standards
- children are more educated at a higher standard
What are the disadvantages of exogenous privatisation?
- not checked by gov or local authority, not as regulated, less care
Other examples of EX prv
Cola-sation of education
- big companies target education for profit- sponsorship
BUCKINGHAM N SCANLON
-4 leading educational software companies are owned by multi-nationals
- disney, mattel, googlification of the classroom
What are the criticism of EX prv
BALL N BEDER
BALL- a schools sports initiative was scrapped by Cadburys after is was revealed pupil in schools would have to eat 5,444 chocolate bars to qualify for just one set of volleyball nets
BEDER- families spent 110,000 in Tesco to get one computer
3 evaluations of the privatisation and education
1- more business-like efficient schools
2- more choice for parents
3- the profit motive may encourage private companies to provide schools and improve filing schools in areas where education is poor quality
Is academisation the same as privatisation?
NO
Academy trusts are charities. Formally, they are charitable trusts which are also limited companies
- do not have shareholders
- any financial surplus is reinvested into the company
- no profitable contracts
What is globalisation?
Refers to the increased interconnectedness of societies, so what happens in one locality is shaped by distant events in another.
Is academisation the same as privatisation?
YES
- Typically led by ‘chief executives’ not headteacher
- all ‘branding’ to appeal to the ‘market’ of parents
- compete against each other (chain schools)
- gov make no decision
- can hold large sums of money to CEO to do whatever they want, investments
- schools advertised through the media
How is globalisation caused?
The spread of new information and media technologies (especially the internet), cheap air travel, mass tourism, mass migration, increased number of multi-national businesses.
What does PISA stand for?
Programme for International Student Assessment
What does it mean to say the ‘standards for education are no longer fixed at national borders?
This means that countries can listen to each other and influence policy
How does PISA help?
Noticed underachievement in Germany
- all day schooling, prompted them to make change, changed how teachers entered the system
How has PISA influenced the UK education system?
- former education secretary Micheal Grove called for longer school days and less holidays to match East Asian nations
- Finland were a top performing nation and influenced our free school system
Increased variety in schools
Scandinavia- autonomy of schools n teachers
America- charter schools influenced academies in UK
Finland- raised entry requirements for trainee teachers
6 other examples of globalisation and education
1- Global terrorism
2- Increased immigration
3- Global companies
4- British identity
5- Global economy
6- Global pandemic
1- Global terorrism
- introduce programmes such as PREVENT
- reduce risk of being groomed into terrorism
X targeted students in religious ethnic minorities
X discrimination
2- Increased immigration
EAL- english as an additional language need more support
X do not have enough funding
3- Global companies
Now more involved in education
- googlification
4- British identity
KELLY- emphasis placed on educating pupils on what it means to be ‘British’ but also part of a global community
- GCSE Citizenship
X teaching ‘Britishness’
X ethnocentric
X contradictory
5- Global economy
British schools have to adapt in order to keep up with the global economy
e.g. computer programming in taught in primary schools
6- Pandemics
- remote learning
- poor attendance
- students mental health
Higher education
- universities have a ‘sister campus’ abroad
Newcastle has a branch in Malaysia - London school of economics
overseas students, 44.64% - BALL universities are increasingly marketing themselves to a global market as they pay more fees
Chinese students
- PHDs and masters degree easier to obtain in England
- hypercompetitive school system
- attracted to studying in the UK
Criticisms of the impact of globalisation on education
X Costly
X Implementing some of the initiatives is expensive and short lived
Criticisms of the impact of globalisation on education
X Doesn’t go far enough
X Introducing a more diverse curriculum is still slow
UK curriculum is ethnocentric
Criticisms of the impact of globalisation on education
X Limited focus on subjects
X International ranking systems are only focused on a limited number of subjects e.g. maths, science, reading (PISA)
Criticisms of the impact of globalisation on education
X Does not consider cultural differences
X Comparing different education systems does not consider cultural differences and other social policy differences
