History Of Educational Policies In The Uk

Question 1

What does educational policy mean

Answer 1

Refers to the plans, strategies, instructions, and recommendations introduced by government

Question 2

Most educational policy is a response to the following issues

Answer 2

Equal opportunities
Selection and choice
Control of education
Marketisation and privatisation

Question 3

What was education like pre-1870s in Britain

Answer 3

1. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, no state schools
2. Education was available for the rich at fee-paying schools

3.Some churches and charities provided education for the poor

4. The state spent no money on education

Question 4

What is Forster education act (1870)

Answer 4

1. Industrialisation increases the need for an educated workforce
2. State introduces elementary education 5-10 year olds
3. Attendance made compulsory until age 10
4. Curriculum offered in the “four Rs”: reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion

Question 5

Butler education act (1940)

Answer 5

1. Introduced free education for all between 5-15 years
2. Aim to provide equality of educational opportunity for all children
3. Introduced the tripartite system where all students must sit a test at age 11 ( the 11+), pupils then allocated to 1 of 3 school types

Question 6

What are the different types of schools ( there’s 3)

Answer 6

Grammar, secondary, technical

Question 7

What are grammar schools

Answer 7

For students that passed the 11+

They were seen as bright students

And taught by middle class teachers

Question 8

What are secondary schools

Answer 8

For the vast majority of students who failed the 11+

Basic tuition for English language and maths

Working class

Question 9

What are technological schools

Answer 9

For students who are a mixture of MC and WC who have a different interest

Question 10

Define meritocracy

Answer 10

The harder you work the more you gain

Question 11

The comprehensive system (1965)

Answer 11

1. Aimed to overcome the class divide of the tripartite system and make education more meritocratic
2. 11+ was abolished, along with grammar & secondary modern schools
3. Replaced with comprehensive schools, for all students in an area

Question 12

2 views on the role of comprehensive schools from functionalist

Answer 12

1. Functionalists would argue that the mixing children of different social classes would increase social solidarity
2. They would also argue that comprehensives are more meritocratic ( as it gives students more time to show their abilities, rather than just selecting at 11)

Question 13

2 views on the role of comprehensive schools from Marxist

Answer 13

2. Ford ( 1969) - found however that there was little mixing due to streaming students according to ability
3. Marxist would argue that the comprehensive system doesn’t challenge streaming and labelling
   - thus denies WC students equal opportunities
   - reaffirms the ‘myth of meritocracy’

Question 14

The education reform act (1988)

Answer 14

Margaret Thatcher & the conservative government sought to introduce a market into the education system

Question 15

What the education reform act want

Answer 15

More consumer choice and competition between schools

Question 16

What is the key policy at the heart of marketisation

Answer 16

Parentocracy

Question 17

What is parentocracy

Answer 17

1. Publication of league tables & foster reports
2. Business sponsorship of schools
3. Open enrolment, allowing successful schools to recruit more pupils
4. Creation of specialist schools
5. Formula funding ( schools receive the same amount of funding for each pupil)
6. Schools competing to attract more people

Question 18

Why does neoliberals and new right favour marketisation

Answer 18

Arguing that successful schools will thrive, whilst failing schools will ‘go out of business’

Question 19

What does formula funding mean to schools

Answer 19

That some students become more attractive to schools than others as they are likely to achieve high grades

Question 20

What does Ball (1994) & Whitty (1998) show

Answer 20

That marketisation reinforces existing inequalities

Question 21

What does Will Bartlett (1993) show

Answer 21

Noted that because parents are attracted to schools with good league rankings that it encourages schools to engage in 2 types of behaviour
Cream skimming & Silt shifting

Question 22

What is funding formula

Answer 22

Schools are allocated funds by a formula based on how many pupils they attract

Question 23

Institute for public policy research (2012)

Answer 23

Found that competition orientated education systems (like Britain’s) produces more segregation between children of different social backgrounds

Question 24

What do new labour’s argue

Answer 24

That parentocracy was a myth- as only mc parents were able to take advantage of the system

Question 25

What does Stephen ball argue

Answer 25

That parentocracy simply disguised class inequality

Question 26

What are the policies that new labour introduced (Blair& Brown)

Answer 26

1. Deprived areas designed ‘EducationActionZones’ & provided extra funding; - ‘aim higher’ programme to encourage under represented groups into HE - Education maintenance allowance: money for poorer students to attend FE - Reduction of class sizes; - introduced “city academies” ( a fresh start for underperforming, inner- city schools); - increased funding for education

Question 27

Criticisms of New labour

Answer 27

implementing university tuition fees which may deter many WC students

Question 28

What did Melissa Benn (2012) argue

Answer 28

Melissa Benn (2012) argued there was a contradiction between continued commitment to marketisation & tackling inequality

Question 29

What was the coalition agreement

Answer 29

Setting out their vision for education

Question 30

Coalition government (2010-2015)

Answer 30

1. From 2010 all schools were encouraged to leave LEA control, to convert to academies, receive funds direct from the department for education 2. Introduced free schools ( run by parents, charities, businesses, and faith groups rather than LEA) 3. Aim is to take control away from the state & give it to the parent, esp when they’re unhappy with the provision in their area

Question 31

What does Rebecca Allen (2010) show

Answer 31

Having looked at how free schools operate in Sweden & US found that educational standards fell & international rankings were lost

Question 32

Evidence of ( DoFE, 2012) that free schools take?

Answer 32

Fewer disadvantaged pupils than other nearby schools

Question 33

Policies that the coalition gov aimed at reducing inequality

Answer 33

1. Free school meals - for all children in reception, yr 1, & yr 2 2. Pupil premium - extra money for schools with students from disadvantaged backgrounds

Question 34

What does the coalition’s “austerity” programme mean

Answer 34

1. Ended EMA 2. Tripled university tuition fees to 9,000 3. Closed sure start centres 4. Cut the building schools for the future programme by 60%