Education - Social Policy Flashcards
(38 cards)
Education Pre 1833
No state education
The rich could pay for education
Education in 1880
School became compulsory from 5 - 13
M/C were given academic education, W/C were given vocational education
Education in 1944
The tripartite system:
- 11+ exam was introduced
- Children were sorted into grammar and secondary modern schools
Education in 1965
Comprehensive School System:
- All children attended the same type of school
Education from 1988
Marketisation:
- Schools are ran like businessess
- Aimed at increasing standards and competition
What is the tripartite system?
Pupils were sorted into different schools after the 11+ exam in their final year of primary school
(Grammar, Secondary Modern, Technical)
Characteristics of Grammar schools
- Elitist
- Focused on exams and academics
- Majority middle-class
- Access to higher education
Characteristics of Secondary Modern
- Mainly working class
- For those who failed the 11+ exam
- Focused on manual labour
Characteristics of Technical schools
- Very few people attended them
Why do some sociologists criticise the tripartite system?
Argue it reproduces inequality within society
- Separated the social classes
- Created unequal opportunities
- Reproduced gender inequality as girls needed a higher score than boys to go to grammar school
How might Functionalists view the tripartite system?
- Helps with role allocation
- Meritocratic = everyone sits the same test
- Viewed positively
How might Marxists view the tripartite system?
- Unfair system
- Produces further inequality
What is the comprehensive school system? (1965)
- All students are taught all subjects under one roof
- Wanted to remove inequality
- Encouraged meritocracy as (in theory) everyone is taught the same content to the same level
- However, it was the local authorities decision to go comprehensive or not, and many didn’t
How would Marxists view the comprehensive system?
- Serves the interests of capitalism
- Legitimises class inequality
How would Functionalists view the comprehensive system?
- Promotes social integration between classes
- Meritocratic
What did Julienne Ford find about social integration in comprehensive schools?
(1969)
She found little social mixing between the classes, largely due to streaming
What was the 1988 Education Reform Act?
- Introduced by Margaret Thatcher + Conservative government
- Shift away from state involvement
- Emphasis on competitiveness to increase standards
What did the 1997 New Labour do?
- Tony Blair + Gordan Brown
- Continued many of Thatcher’s policies
What did the 2010 Conservative-Lib Dem coalition do?
- David Cameron + Nick Clegg
- Pushed academisation
- Pushed free schools
What is Parentocracy?
(Miriam David 1993)
Rule by parents
- When the power shifts from the producers (schools) to the consumers (parents + students)
What does parentocracy do?
Provides more variety and a tailored education to suit the needs of the students
What do some sociologists argue about marketisation?
It has helped to reproduce inequalities in the education system
What did Bartlett (1993) say that league tables allow schools to do?
- Cream-skimming
- Silt-Shifting
What is Cream-skimming?
- Schools choose their own pupils
- High achievers are recruited
- Mostly m/c students
