Topic 6 - Education Policy And Inequality Flashcards
What is meritocracy?
Everyone has equal opportunity to succeed based upon their skills and abilities
What is parentocracy?
Gives parents more choice and power where their children go to school
What act brought in the tripartite system?
1944 education act
What was the 11+
A test to determine what school you would go to
What schools could you go to after the 11+
Secondary modern
Grammar schools
Technical schools
What were comprehensive schools? When were they established?
A school where all pupils would attend, instead of being based upon a test.
1965
What do functionalists think of the comprehensive education system?
It brings children of different social classes together, promotes social integration and it’s more meritocratic
What do Marxists think about the comprehensive education system?
They argue it’s not meritocratic and reproduces class inequality
Two ways marketisation has created an education market?
- reduces direct state control over education
- increasing competition between schools and parental choice
Under which government did marketisation become a central theme of education policy? When was this?
Margaret Thatcher, conservative
1988
Which government introduced academies? Which government increased them?
Tony Blair, labour
David Cameron/Nick clegg, conservative/lib-dem
Which group prefer marketisation policies?
New-right and neo-liberals
Policies that promote marketisation/parentocracy?
- league tables
- business sponsorship of schools
- specialist schools
- tuition fees
- free schools
What is one criticism of marketisation?
It reproduces inequality
What is cream skimming?
Good schools are allowed to be more selective with their students, usually middle class
