EP-The comprehensive system Flashcards
What was sent out to encourage the introduction of comprehensives and what year?
1965 circular
What 2 methods were said to reproduce class inequality within comps?
Streaming - ability groups
m/c tend to be in higher streams
led to SFP
Labelling - label w/c pupils negatively
What was strengthened due to introduction of comps?
Myth of meritocracy - now everyone was in the same school it made it appear as though everyone had an equal opportunity regardless of social class.
Who was it down to to decide if schools should ‘go comprehensive’ in 1965?
LEA : local education authorities
grammar-secondary modern divide still existed in some areas, especially conservative areas
Who (and which party?) introduced 1988 ERA (education reform act)?
Margaret Thatcher - conservative
What policy did Conservative and New Labour introduce?
marketization of education (favoured by NR)
2 way the ERA created an ‘education market’?
reducing direct state control over education
increasing completion between SCHOOLS and PARENTAL CHOICE OF SCHOOL
What does Miriam David mean by parentocracy?
(rule by parents)
Marketisation shifts power away from producers (teachers/schools) to consumers (parents)
This encourages diversity as schools wants to meet needs of different pupils as well as raising standards
Policies to promote marketization?
Public exam league tables and Ofsted reports
Business sponsorship of schools
Open enrolment - successful schools recruit more pupils
Formula funding - funding per pupil
Schools able to opt out of LEA control - academies
Schools having to compete to attract pupils - no longer just attend your local school
How do Stephen Ball and Geoff Whitty argue marketization legitimates and reproduces inequality?
Exam League tables and formula funding
Why do league tables benefit m/c pupils?
Parents are attracted to schools with good results, this means schools can be more selective about high achieving m/c pupils attending (meaning they get the best education)
How do league tables hinder poorly achieving schools?
The school can’t afford to be selective and has to take everyone meaning the results are poorer and the school is less attractive to high achieving m/c pupils
How does formula funding benefit schools?
The more pupils they attract the more money they get - the better the school the better the teachers and facilities (with money gained) which attracts more pupils ]
Why do Ball and Gerwitz argue there is a myth of parentocracy?
It appears there is freedom of choice :
M/C parents have economic/cultural capital which means they are able to take adv of choices available
E.g moving to catchment area
