Postmodernism etc.

Question 1

Postmodernism: Individual Choice

Answer 1

• Education reflects the personal needs and wishes of students
• Many colleges and secondary schools to choose from - find the one best suited for them
• Different options to learn post-16 (apprenticeships, BTECs, A Levels)

Question 2

Postmodernism: More ICT Lessons

Answer 2

• Globalisation - the greater interconnectedness of countries all over the world
• It has led to a rise in ICT jobs
• Schools need to teach students computer skills (Excel, coding)
• Essential skills needed to compete with other countries in the global economy

Question 3

Social Democratic Approach

Answer 3

• Emphasise the need for equality of opportunity and welfare provision (e.g. benefits)
• Government must create a ** level playing field** so everyone has an equal chance to succeed at school
• One way is through positive discrimination - government should target students from disadvantaged backgrounds and provide extra support (FSM, breakfast club etc.)
• Suggest a way of ending social inequalities and strategies to tackle the disadvantages faced by WC children, unlike Marxists
• Ideas reflected in the campaign by footballer, Marcus Rashford, to get FSMs for children during the 2020 holidays
  • Started a petition to end child poverty, received hundreds of thousands of signatures

AO3 - may not improve educational achievement - stigma of taking FSMs, pupils may not take it due to worry about bullying

Question 4

Liberal Perspective

Answer 4

• Believe education should be for the benefit for the individuals, not for employers or wider society
• Critical of mainstream schools because students are ‘spoon fed’
• Believe students should guide their own learning and think for themselves
• Support de-schooling (want to get rid of mainstream schools, let children take control of their learning)
• Summerhill: school based on liberal ideas, children are given the space to be themselves, no timetable, can study what they wish to and both staff and students are equal in a democratic environment

AO3 - ignore the causes of inequalities in society