Education Policies + Globalisation

Question 1

Effects of Globalisation on Educational Policies: Increased Flow of Ideas About Education

Answer 1

• Globalisation has led to an increased flow of ideas of the different styles of teaching and learning around the world
• UK governments have researched these and adopted successful strategies in UK schools
• Introduced Free Schools from Sweden after observing their success
• Allows parents and local businesses to set up schools that are free from the control of local authorities

AO3 - adopting education policies from other countries fails to consider cultural differences, what is effective in one country may not be effective in another

Question 2

Effects of Globalisation on Educational Policies: Make International Comparisons in Education

Answer 2

• UK governments make international comparisons between the achievement of school pupils in the UK and the rest of the world
• International League Tables: PISA involves tests in mathematics, science and reading among representative samples of hundreds of thousands of 9-15 yr old pupils in 50-65 countries every 2-3 yrs

Question 3

Effects of Globalisation on Educational Policies: Growth of ICT

Answer 3

• Has led to the inclusion of computing skills in the National Curriculum
• Most jobs involve ICT, pupils need to be confident in using computers, so that the UK can compete with other economies around the world

AO3 - there is a digital divide in the UK, many WC suffer from material deprivation (no access to internet or computers at home so cannot do homework or develop computer skills), made worse during the pandemic (could not access remote learning)

Question 4

Effects of Globalisation on Educational Policies: Changes in the Economy

Answer 4

• Decline in traditional manufacturing jobs, have moved overseas to lower wage economies
• Has led to a rise in jobs in the service sector, school leavers need the skills for this area of employment
• Government also decided that we needed more graduates with higher qualifications -> school leaver age increased to 18

Question 5

Effects of Globalisation on Educational Policies: Immigration

Answer 5

• Increase in immigration
• Cheaper air travel and technology (internet and social media to find jobs and make connections) have contributed to rising numbers, making schools more diverse
• UK governments have passed education policies that focus on inclusion and a multicultural education -> culture week
• Citizenship introduced to integrate pupils into British values and practices, promoting social solidarity, regardless of ethnicity

AO3 - emphasis on British values could be viewed as ethnocentric, potentially alienate pupils from some ethnic minority backgrounds