Education policy topic

Question 1

What is the tripartite system

Answer 1

Arrangement of state- funded secondary education between 1945 and the 1970s in England + Wales
Selection of pupils by ability at 11 - sorted them into 3 schools

Question 2

What is a Secondary modern school

Answer 2

A general education to children not selected for grammar schools

Question 3

What is a grammar school

Answer 3

A state school to which pupils are admitted on the basis of ability.
Since 1965 most have been absorbed into the comprehensive school system

Question 4

What is an independent school?

Answer 4

A non government institution that are generally not a part of a system- charge fees for attendance , do not have to follow national curriculum

Question 5

What is a comprehensive school

Answer 5

Does not select based on academic ability or aptitude- contrast to selective school system where admission. Is restricted on the basis of selection criteria - typically managed by local authorities

Question 6

What is a converter academy

Answer 6

A formally maintained school that has voluntarily converted to an academy status: not necessarily to convert to a sponsor

Question 7

What is a sponsored academy

Answer 7

A formally maintained school that has been transformed to academy status as a part of a gov. Intervention strategy. They are consequently run by a Gov. - approved sponsor - sometimes referred as a traditional academy

Question 8

What is a multi academy trust (MAT)

Answer 8

Groups of academies that have come together to form a charitable company with a single group of members (who have an overview of the gov. Arrangements) a single board of trustees.
The circle of trust is a MAT

Question 9

What is a Free school

Answer 9

A school set up by an organisation or a group of individuals, funded by the gov. But not controlled by local authorities

Question 10

What is a specialist school

Answer 10

Schools which specialise in a certain area or field of curriculum

Question 11

What is a special needs school

Answer 11

The education of children who differ socially, mentally or physically from the average to such an extent that they require modification of usual school practices

Question 12

what are sure start centres?

Answer 12

a place or group of places : which is managed by the local authority with a view to securing that early childhood services in the local authority’s area are made available in an integrated way

Question 13

pre industrial revolution policies

Answer 13

late 18th/ early 19th C - no state school
before 1833 - state spent no money on education
industrialisation increased the need for an educated workforce

Question 14

post industrial revolution policies

Answer 14

the state make education compulsory from 5-13 in 1880
type of education depended on class + background
school did little to change child’s ascribed status
m/c given an academic curriculum
w/c given schooling to equip them with the basic numeracy/ literacy skills for factory work

Question 15

1944 education act

Answer 15

tripartite system aimed to be meritocratic but created class inequality
pupils sat the 11+ exam and sorted students into the secondary school they would attend
grammar school
secondary modern
technical schools

Question 16

how did the tripartite system reproduce class inequality?

Answer 16

by channelling the two classes into different schools
legitimised (justified) inequality based on the principle that ability is inborn

Question 17

1965 comprehensive system

Answer 17

aim: to overcome class divide of the tripartite system, abolished the 11+
functionalists argue comprehensive promote social integration
Marxists argue they are not meritocratic and reproduce inequality through labelling e.g. streaming

Question 18

OFSTED

Answer 18

introduced in 1992
system changed in 2005,2012, 2015,2018
special measures introduced on 2009

Question 19

New labour

Answer 19

(1997-2010)
aimed to reduce inequality
city academies (2000)
Growth in specialist schools
education action zones (EAZ)= more money put into poorer areas
Aim higher= a program in poorer areas are introduced to higher education
Education maintenance allowance (EMA)= money given to stay on in higher edu.
sure start - compensatory policy

Question 20

coalition

Answer 20

(2010-2015)
policies to reduce inequality-
increased uni price
pupil premium- some people dont claim fundings - embarrassment
expansion of academies
reforms to curriculum
free schools
increased tuition fees

Question 21

pros of marketisation

Answer 21

New Right
increased choices in schools
more private investment in education
increased university attendance
improvements in GCSE + A level pass rates

Question 22

Criticisms of marketisation

Answer 22

‘myth of pantocracy’ = not every parent has every choice
selective rather than open enrolment
teaching the test
education triage - off rolling- where you get rid of students if they will bring the grades down so schools don’t look bad

Question 23

who is pro marketisation?

Answer 23

David argued marketisation created parentocracy (parental choice)
league tables
OFSTED publications

Question 24

criticisms of marketisation

Answer 24

Ball= creates inequalities between schools
the funding formula means popular schools attract more money and get better , unpopular schools get less money= making some jobs redundant/non-existent
Bartlett= league tables create “cream skimming”
Gerwitz- studied 14 schools- m/c parents have more eco. + cult. capital so can benefit more from marketisation that w/c

Question 25

what is privatisation?

Answer 25

it is the transfer of public assets (schools) to private companies
edu. system becomes a source of profit for capitalists in what ball calls the “education service industry”
involved in things like building schools, providing supply teachers etc
LEA often forced into contract due to lack of gov. funding
Asset stripping

Question 26

what is asset stripping?

Answer 26

the practice of taking over a company in financial difficulties and selling each of its assets separately to make a profit without regard for the companies future

Question 27

Globalisation

Answer 27

many of these companies are foreign owned
as a result, nation states are becoming less important in policy making which is shifting to a global level+ often privatised
private sector also penetrating schools indirectly e.g. vending machines = “cola-isation” of education - Ball
Molnar- schools easy target for product endorsement
however, schools often benefit little from these deals e.g. Cadburys sports equipment promotion

Question 28

pros of privatisation

Answer 28

outsourcing of services within edu. to private companies
growth of academic trusts
education consultants
examination services
developing educational brands
private investment in school buildings

Question 29

criticisms of privatisation

Answer 29

control over curriculum by the companies could influence content taught
cola-isation
focus on profit over progress- courses cut if unprofitable
academies can use untrained+ unqualified teachers
can opt out of national curriculum