Different Types of Schools Flashcards
What does the ‘tripartite system’ consist of?
Technical, secondary modern, and grammar schools.
What is a ‘technical school’?
A school that focuses on jobs centred around labour.
What is a ‘secondary modern school’?
A school that offers general education to those who aren’t offered places in grammar schools.
What is a ‘grammar school’.
A school in which pupils are admitted based on their intellectual ability.
How do children gain access to a grammar school?
They pass an exam taken at the age of 11 to determine whether they are intelligent enough.
What percentage of children pass this 11+ test?
20%
Why does Theresa May think grammar schools are a good idea?
They help to increase social mobility by giving the working class a chance to enter higher education.
Give 4 strengths of grammar schools.
1) Entrance is determined by the child’s ability only
2) Children get allocated to the schools best suited for them with role allocation into jobs best suited for them
3) Gives working class a chance to access higher education
4) Increases social mobility
Give 6 weaknesses of grammar schools.
1) Girls have a higher chance of passing than boys
2) There are better facilities in grammar schools
3) 11 years old is a young age to determine if a child has high academic ability
4) There are limited places
5) Even if working class get into grammar schools they may still be unable to afford higher education
6) People can buy advantages to help them pass the 11+ such as tuition
What is a ‘comprehensive school’?
A secondary or middle school that doesn’t intake on the basis of academic achievement.
Define ‘equality of opportunity’.
Everyone has the same chance and the same opportunities.
Give 5 strengths of comprehensive schools.
1) No negative labelling of failing 11+ exam due to there not being one
2) Creates diversity within the school
3) Everyone has access to the same curriculum with equality of opportunity
4) Late developers have a chance to flourish
5) Setting and streaming allows lower abilities to move up sets
Give 4 weaknesses of comprehensive schools.
1) Talented pupils would be taught most effectively in grammar schools
2) Overall exam results are worse than the previous tripartite system
3) There is a difference amongst comprehensive schools due to area and so different resources are offered
4) Setting and streaming ultimately leaves w/c at the bottom being no different from the tripartite system
Explain why the comprehensive system overtook the tripartite system.
The tripartite system was deemed unfair and they wanted to bring about a greater parity of esteem by allowing a wider social mixing. It also meant that children didn’t have to take the 11+ exam and so those who would have failed wouldn’t feel like failures and would receive greater encouragement in education.
