Education

Question 1

FORMAL EDUCATION

Answer 1

Learning particular subjects e.g., Maths, History in organised institutions (schools)

Question 2

INFORMAL EDUCATION

Answer 2

Occurs by observing what goes on about us, through experiences of life

Question 3

FUNCTIONALISTS

Answer 3

Argue that the functions of institutions such as education is to reproduce culture by socialising individuals into the key values and roles required for social stability

Question 4

AGENT OF SOCIAL CONTROL

Answer 4

Individual or group that is responsible for ensuring members of society conform to socially acceptable behaviour

Question 5

SOCIAL MOBILITY

Answer 5

Movement of individuals up or down a social scale

Question 6

SOCIAL COHESION

Answer 6

“Sticking together”. It describes the integration of a society into a unified whole

Question 7

MERITOCRACY

Answer 7

A social system in which rewards are allocated justly on the basis of merit rather than factors such as class, gender, ethnicity

Question 8

DE-SCHOOLING

Answer 8

The idea that schools should be abolished because the compulsory nature of schools hinders the learning process

Question 9

NATIONAL CURRICULUM

Answer 9

Subjects and subject content that must be studied by all children in state schools, in an attempt to standardise educational provision

Question 10

OFSTED

Answer 10

(Office for Standards in Education) the government agency given the task of monitoring the quality of schools and teachers in the UK

Question 11

SATs

Answer 11

Standard Assessment Tests. Assessment method used at the end of each key stage of education

Question 12

GCSE

Answer 12

General Certificate in Secondary Education. National exams taken at the age of 16

Question 13

DIPLOMA

Answer 13

Qualification for 14-19 year olds. Introduced as a pilot in 2008. Up to 10 subjects to choose from

Question 14

LEAGUE TABLES

Answer 14

Lists produced by the government indicating the position of each school in comparison to others depending on their exam performance.

Question 15

PRIMARY SCHOOLS 5-11 YEARS

Answer 15

This is the first level of education in the UK. They are generally mixed-sex, and usually located close to the child’s home. Children tend to be with the same group throughout the day and one teacher has responsibility for most of their work

Question 16

SECONDARY SCHOOLS 11-16 YEARS

Answer 16

Most children transfer at the age of 11 to secondary school. Most cater for both sexes. Pupils are taught the national curriculum subjects, normally by specialist teachers

Question 17

VOCATIONAL

Answer 17

Describes a course or qualification designed to provide more of a “hands on” approach to learning. This encourages the application of knowledge and understanding of a subject in a practical way

Question 18

LABELLING

Answer 18

Names/labels given to individuals by teachers (and by others e.g., policemen) which then influence the behaviour of those individuals and also influence the way others respond to those individuals

Question 19

SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY

Answer 19

People hear labels about themselves from people who are more powerful than they are. They come to believe these labels are true and then act as if they are true. Therefore, the labels become true

Question 20

SETTING

Answer 20

A way of dividing pupils into groups for particular subjects based on their ability in those subjects

Question 21

STREAMING

Answer 21

A way of dividing pupils according to their supposed ability

Question 22

ANTI-SCHOOL SUB-CULTURE

Answer 22

These are formed because pupils feel that they are not valued by the school or because they do not identify with the value system or goals of the school

Question 23

MIXED ABILITY

Answer 23

Pupils of all ability levels are taught as one group

Question 24

CULTURAL CAPITAL

Answer 24

The desired skills, for example, language which the middle classes pass on to their children

Question 25

UCAS

Answer 25

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. The organisation responsible for the allocation and administration of university and college places

Question 26

CRISIS OF MASCULINITY

Answer 26

The idea that men’s perception of what a man is and how he ought to behave has been undermined by social and economic changes

Question 27

BREADWINNER

Answer 27

The person in the household who is the main income earner

Question 28

ETHNOCENTRIC CURRICULUM

Answer 28

Schools are structured in a particular way including such aspects as school assemblies, history and language which reflects the culture of the majority

Question 29

TRIPARTITE SYSTEM

Answer 29

Three types of secondary school for different types of pupil based on an IQ (Intelligence quotient) test at 11

Question 30

ELEVEN PLUS

Answer 30

A type of intelligence test taken at age 11 to determine whether a child should attend a grammer school, a technical school or a secondary modern

Question 31

NEW VOCATIONALISM

Answer 31

Training aimed to equip the young with the skills and education required by a rapidly changing economy

Question 32

MARKETISATION OF EDUCATION

Answer 32

Changes to education in the late 1980s, so that it became more business like.

Question 33

EXCELLENCE IN CITIES (EiC)

Answer 33

EiC programme, launched in March 1999, made a unique contribution to the raising of attainment of disadvantaged children in our most deprived cities, towns and rural areas

Question 34

EDUCATION ACTION ZONES (EAZ)

Answer 34

Are built around groups of schools that are determined to raise educational standards in the most challenging areas in the UK

Question 35

EDUCATIONAL MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE (EMA)

Answer 35

Money paid directly to students who stay on in education after the age of 16. The amount received depends on parents’ income