Gender and Education Policy

Question 1

Indirect Policies - Movement towards equality in workplace

Answer 1

• Equal Pay Act
• sex discrimination act
• equality act

Question 2

Indirect polices - changes in women’s position in society

Answer 2

• Divorce reform act
• availability of contraception
• legalisation of abortion

Question 3

Education Reform Act

Answer 3

• Intro of National curriculum - illegal to discriminate on grounds of gender in subject choice
• Standardised testing and coursework - Girls improvements linked to GCSE’s and coursework
• Marketisation of education - girls as high performers more desirable to schools

Question 4

Boys underachievement - New Labour

Answer 4

• DfCSF - saw boys literacy rates as largest factor in underachievement of boys
• Reading Champions
• Raising Boys Achievement Scheme
• Playing for success

Question 5

Other initiatives and policies

Answer 5

• STEM subjects - GIST/WISE opening doors for girls to get into STEM subjects
• Changes to Linear exams - linear high stakes exams thought to favour boys - increased high grades for boys since 2017
• Removal of coursework

Question 6

Evaluations

Answer 6

• Jackson et al - boys underachievement has been the focus of most policy
• Gender gap in achievement closing slightly
• Recruitment of male teachers still an issue (80% of education graduate female)