Social Policy Flashcards
What was the purpose of the 1944 Education Act?
Introduced a tripartite system of secondary schools: grammar, modern, and technical.
Allocated students to one of three types based on the 11+ exam results.
Who predominantly attended grammar schools?
Mainly middle-class (M/C) pupils, providing access to higher education.
Grammar schools focused on academic achievement.
What was the outcome for working-class (W/C) pupils in the tripartite system?
Mainly attended modern schools, leading to access to manual work due to 11+ exam failures.
The 11+ exam contributed to class inequality.
What did the 1965 Comprehensive school system abolish?
Abolished the 11+ exam and allowed local authorities to eliminate grammar and modern schools.
Comprehensive schools were designed to serve all pupils.
What is the Functionalist perspective on education?
Promotes social integration and meritocracy.
Functionalists believe education benefits society as a whole.
What do Marxists argue about education?
Reproduces inequality through streaming and labelling.
They view education as serving the interests of the ruling class.
Define marketisation in education.
Introduction of market forces of consumer choice and competition between suppliers.
Associated with New Right and Neoliberal ideologies.
What is ‘parentocracy’ according to David (1993)?
Power shifts from schools (producers) to parents (consumers).
This concept emphasizes parental choice in education.
What are the effects of marketisation policies according to Ball (1994)?
Create class inequality by establishing disparities between schools.
Examples include exam league tables and funding formulas.
What is cream-skimming in the context of education?
Attracting high-achieving middle-class pupils to selective schools.
This practice can negatively impact schools with lower rankings.
What is silt-shifting?
Avoiding less able pupils to protect a school’s ranking.
Schools with poor league table positions cannot afford to be selective.
What are the three types of parents identified by Gewirtz in his study?
- Privileged skilled
- Disconnected-local
- Semi-skilled
These categories reflect differences in cultural capital and choice.
What did New Labour aim to do between 1997 and 2010?
Reduce inequality through initiatives like Education Action Zones and EMAs.
Aimed to increase state funding and improve educational access.
What is the impact of privatisation on education?
Transfers public assets to private companies, shaping education policies.
This trend blurs the line between public and private sectors.
How do private companies benefit from schools according to Molnar (2005)?
Schools carry goodwill and can be used for product endorsement.
The benefits to schools and pupils are limited.
What was Hall’s (2011) view on coalition government policies?
Part of a neoliberal revolution, with academies serving private capitalist interests.
Critiques the idea that privatisation improves educational standards.
What does Ball (2011) suggest about academies and free schools?
Promote increased fragmentation and centralisation of control.
This trend may exacerbate inequalities in education.
What are the criticisms of free school meals and pupil premium policies?
Not effectively addressing inequality, with many heads reporting limited impact.
These policies are intended to support disadvantaged pupils.
What was the focus of assimilation policies in the 1960s and 70s?
Encouraged ethnic minorities to adopt British culture, especially language.
These policies often overlooked issues like poverty and racism.
What is the GIST policy aimed at?
Trying to reduce gender differences in education.
Specifically targets the underachievement of girls.
