Education Flashcards
(30 cards)
State Education origin
- Before the industrial revolution, education was provided by churches and charities for some ordinary people and fee-paying public schools for the rich.
The 1944 Education Act & Tripartite System
- Also known as the Butler Act.
- Established a tripartite secondary schools system
60-70s
Shift to Comprehensive System
Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Labour and Conservative governments moved away from the two-tier system.
* They favoured the Comprehensive System, where pupils of all abilities are taught together.
* Today, most state secondary pupils attend non-selective schools
Who introduced Academies and when?
- Introduced by the Labour government from 2000 as City Academies.
Types of Academies & Expansion
- Sponsored academies
- Converter academies
- Under Michael Gove, failing schools were forced to become Academies, and outstanding schools were fast-tracked.
- Some schools have combined to form multi academy trusts (MATs)
Free Schools
Also established by the 2010 Academies Act.
- Schools set up by parents, teachers, charities, or businesses in areas with a shortage of provision.
- Are independent of the LEA.
- Are not selective.
- Cannot charge fees.
- Are not allowed to make a profit, though Educational Management Organisations running them can.
- Are state schools, funded by the taxpayer.
Ofsted (Office of Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills)
- Charged with regulating standards in state schools.
- Publishes league tables of school performance.
- Carries out regular inspections, rating schools as: Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate.
- Can give a notice to improve or put a school into ‘special measures’ if it is failing.
- Schools in special measures are closely monitored and re-inspected. Senior staff may be removed. A school could be closed and reopened as an academy.
- Inspection reports are available on the Ofsted website.
- Reforms to the one-word ratings have been proposed following criticism.
Private Secondary Schools
- Before state education, fee-paying public schools educated the rich.
- Research indicates private school pupils disproportionately hold powerful and influential positions.
- Private schools are technically charities and have benefited from tax breaks.
- The government has started adding VAT to private school fees from January 2025.
- This is estimated to raise £1.7 billion a year to spend on state education, including training 6,500 teachers.
Key Debates in Education
- Should schools be independent academies or subject to LEA control and democratic oversight?
- Should schools be selective or non-selective?
- How much choice should parents have over where to send their children to school?
- How far does the existence of private schools perpetuate social inequality?
Current Proposed Reforms in Education (Labour Government)
- Labour has proposed major reforms.
- Academies will not be able to employ teachers without a teaching qualification.
- Academies will have to teach the national curriculum.
- New schools will no longer automatically open as academies.
- Underperforming schools will no longer be forced to become academies if they aren’t already.
- The government has started adding VAT to private school fees, aiming to fund state education.
What are Sponsored academies?
- Have sponsors (businesses, universities, other schools, faith/voluntary groups).
- Mostly previously underperforming schools converted to improve performance.
What are Converter academies?
- Do not have sponsors.
- Were previously assessed as performing well.
Triparte system - Grammar Schools
- For the academically able. Selective entry by 11+ exam. 164 still exist today and are controversial.
Triparte system - Technical Schools
- For the technically able. Did not widely develop in practice.
Triparte system - Secondary Modern Schools
- For everyone else.
How many pupils attend private secondary schools?
- About 7% of pupils attend a private secondary school today.
Elementary Education Act of 1870
- The Elementary Education Act of 1870 set up School Boards to provide basic education at a cost of 9d a week.
Education Act of 1891
- The Education Act of 1891 established free elementary schooling for most.
Local Education Authorities (LEAs)
- In 1901, Local Education Authorities (LEAs) were set up, based on county councils, to provide schooling. Unitary authorities, like Sheffield, are also LEAs.
Education in 1918
In 1918, fees were abolished in state schools.
Who are Academies established in partnership with?
- Established in partnership with private companies (using PPP/PFI).
What schools are targeted for Academies?
- Usually targeted at struggling schools in deprived areas.
What happened to Academies in 2010?
- Massively expanded under the Coalition government’s 2010 Academies Act.
What are Academies?
- Are state schools funded by the taxpayer.
