education policies (equality)

Question 1

What are the three aims of education policy in the UK?

Answer 1

1. economic efficiency
2. raising educational standards
3. Creating equality of educational opportunity

Question 2

what is economic efficency?

Answer 2

develop the skills of the young to improve the labour force. This
involves making the education system meet the needs of industry and employer

Question 3

what is raising educational standards?

Answer 3

UK education needs to compete in a global education market and is ranked against other countries – e.g. PISA

Question 4

what is Creating equality of educational opportunity?

Answer 4

ensuring that all students get the best educational opportunities.

Question 5

What are the 4 aspects of educational equality identified by Gillborn and Youdell?

Answer 5

1. equality of access
2. equality of circumstance
3. equality of participation
4. equality of outcome

Question 6

explain equality of access

Answer 6

Every child should have the same
opportunities to access educational provision of similar
quality regardless of socioeconomic background.

Question 7

explain the equality of circumstance

Answer 7

Children should all start school
with a similar socio-economic
background so that they are all
truly equal.

Question 8

explain equality of participation

Answer 8

All students have the chance to
participant on an equal footing in
the processes that make up
school life.

Question 9

explain equality of outcome

Answer 9

All students have the same
chances of achievement in
education regardless of socioeconomic background.

Question 10

Policies which increased equality in education

Answer 10

1. 1988 Education Reform Act – National curriculum
2. 1965 – Comprehensivisation
   Act
3. Schools Admissions Code
4. Policies that improve inequality in circumstances

Question 11

how did the 1988 Education Reform Act increase equality?

Answer 11

All schools had to teach the same core curriculum

Question 12

what is the evaluation of the 1988 Education Reform Act?

Answer 12

Not suitable for all – suits ‘academic’ pupil more.

Question 13

how did the 1965 –Comprehensivisation Act increase equality?

Answer 13

Got rid of the 11+ exam and made it so all students would get ‘Parity of Esteem’ & ‘Equality’ within
education

Question 14

what is the evaluation for the 1965 –Comprehensivisation Act?

Answer 14

Comprehensives are large schools so lack individual attention

Question 15

how did the schools admissions code increase equality?

Answer 15

Forbids discrimination in admitting pupil on grounds of socio-economic backgrounds or ability.

Question 16

what is the evaluation for schools admissions code?

Answer 16

Covert selection still takes place by both schools and parents. Postcode lottery

Question 17

how did the Policies that improve
inequality in circumstances increase equality?

Answer 17

Pupil Premium – additional funding for those students
from a poor socio-economic background. Compensatory education

Question 18

what is the evaluation for Policies that improve inequality in circumstances?

Answer 18

Kerr and West – too many other
factors outside of school that impact achievement.

Question 19

3 types of selection

Answer 19

1. Selection by ability – entrance
   tests
2. Selection by aptitude – Talents
3. Selection by Faith

Question 20

Arguments in favour of selection

Answer 20

1. Allows ‘high-flyers’ to benefit.
2. Specialised and focused
   teaching can take place.

Question 21

Arguments against selection

Answer 21

1. Late developers don’t benefit.
2. Mixed ability fosters social cohesion.
3. Reduced risk of labelling and
   therefore SFP
4. HA can act as a inspiration to other students.

Question 22

Open Enrolment Polices &
Parental Choice

Answer 22

OEP mean that parents can apply to any state school, in any area and if the school is under subscribed they must take the child.
However oversubscribed schools fill up quickly so many parents don’t get their 1st choice

Question 23

Over Subscription Policies

Answer 23

Priority to:
* Children in care,
* Pupil premium,
* Siblings (at discretion of LA)
* Catchment area – closest first,
* Faith

Question 24

Covert Selection

Answer 24

Tough and Brooks:
Backdoor social selection to cherry pick students.
Discouraging parents of poorer
students from applying in the first place through high uniform prices, making literature hard to understand, not advertising in poorer areas.
Faith schools require a letter from spiritual leader to gain insight to the potential students family and commitment to both the faith and the school ethos.