Educational Policy and inequality Flashcards
(28 cards)
Describe the main features of the tripartite system
In 1944
Children were allowed to be selected and allocated to one of three different types of secondary schools:
•state school
•independent schools
•grammar schools (students are assessed by the 11+)
Describe the main features of the comprehensive school system
In 1965 It aimed to overcome the class division of the tripartite system and abolish it. However local education authorities refused *hints why there are still grammar school in some areas
What is the Marxist view of the role of comprehensive schools?
- serves the interests of capitalism
- are NOT meritocratic ~ reproduce inequalities
- inequalities through streaming and labelling
What is the Functionalist view of the role of comprehensive schools?
- social integration ~ bringing children from different social classes together in one school
- meritocracy ~ everyone, regardless of background has the ability to achieve high
Define marketisation
The process of introducing market forces of consumer choice and competition between schools
Which sociological perspective favour marketisation?
Neoliberalism and New right
What is parentocracy?
Refers to the idea that parents are in charge of the education system
Define Cream- skimming
Schools that are more selective in choosing their own customers and recruit high achievers ~ middle class
Define Silt-shifting
Schools that avoid less able students, so they do not damage the schools league tables position
How do league tables enable ‘Cream-skimming’ and ‘Silt-shifting’ to take place?
League tables ensure schools that achieve good results are more in demand, by publishing the schools exam results
What is the funding formula?
Schools are allocated funds by a formula based on how many pupils they attract
How does the funding formula creat inequalities?
More popular schools tend to have higher achievement and more qualified teachers compared (middle class), therefore acquiring more funds than unpopular schools
What are the three characteristics of parental choice according to Gewirtz?
- Privileged skilled choosers
- disconnected-local chooser
- semi-skilled chooser
What is a Privileged skilled chooser?
Professional middle class parents who used their economic and cultural capital to gain education capital for their children
What is a Disconnected-local chooser?
Working class parent whose choices were restricted by their lack of economic and cultural capital
What are semi-skilled choosers ?
Working class parents who are ambitious for their child’s education and rely on the opinions of others. ~ to make up for the lack of cultural capital
Explain why Ball argues that parentocracy is a myth
Ball believes that marketisation gives the appearance that all parents having the freedom to pick schools. IN REALITY middle class parents are better able to take advantage of the choices available
List the New Labour policies aimed at reducing inequality
- Education Maintenon Allowance
- Introduction of the National Literacy strategy
- Increase funding for state school
What is the ‘New Labour paradox’?
The contradiction between labour policies to tackle inequality and its commitment to marketisation
Outline Academies
Funding was taken from local authority budget and given directly to academies by central government and academies were given control over their curriculum
Outline free schools policies
Free schools claim that they improved educational standby taking control away from the state and giving power to parents
Define fragmentation
A patchwork of diverse provision that lead to greater inequality in opportunities
Define Centralisation
State schools are directly funded by central government.
What criticism has been made of the pupil premium
Ofsted found that in many case the pupil premium is not spent on those it is supposed to help
