New Right On Education

Question 1

Applying material from the Item, analyse two functions of policy in education (10 marks)

ITEM – The New Right argue that marketisation policies should ensure that parents can make an informed choice about the best school for their child. The government should also ensure that education policies encourage schools to integrate pupils into a shared national culture. However, Marxists argue that education imposes the culture of the dominant ruling- class, not a shared culture

Answer 1

Paragraph 1- Parentocracy
P – NR argue, greater parental choice due to marketisation policies ( parentocracy) , schools run as businesses ( marketisation)
E – League tables( visible exam results) Parents as consumers, can make informed choice for ‘best’ schools (item)
E – function = increase standards = pupils and funding = MC attraction, WC failure
L – Marxist Gewirtz parentocracy = myth, MC = cultural and economic capital

Paragraph 2 – National identity
P – NR argue, integrate = shared national culture (item)
E – National Curriculum introduced 1988 = Emphasises Britains + role in world history
E – Function = Affirm national identity , social cohesion of pupils in single set of British traditions + culture values
L – Marxists = ideology of RC no shared culture devalues culture of WC + ethnic minorities