Social Policy: Education

Question 1

What concerns did Thatcher have with education ?

Answer 1

• The system of O levels and CSEs with many feeling Britain was lagging behind others countries
• Thatcher was also concerned over teachers not being subject to quality control

Question 2

What were the big changes to education that Thatcher made ?

Answer 2

Both a National curriculum and exam system to ensure students were given the same chance at success with the same core knowledge
- 1988 Education Reform Act phased a National Curriculum with three core subjects (maths, English and science) and six foundation subjects (history, geog, Tech, music, art and PE)
- included MFLs being available at key stage 4 (12-16 yr olds)
- 1986 the introduction of General Certificate of Secondary education (GCSEs)
- in practice it removed the two level exams of O levels and CSEs so students all had a level playing field

Question 3

How were these policies criticised ?

Answer 3

• some argued GCSEs were not academically rigorous enough
• for subjects such as History and English there was friction amongst the idea of a National curriculum which could be too restrictive
• some argued Thatcher was inconcistent in allowing schools to control their budgets and suggested an extension of government control and the national curriculum designed by the Department of Education in London

Question 4

What did Thatcher allow some state schools to do ?

Answer 4

To become Grant maintained schools with complete control over budget and operation

Question 5

How did Thatcher change universities ?

Answer 5

• Increased quality control over teaching with some lecturers loosing their job ‘for life’
• research became more controlled ensuring unis were reponsive to the needs of a modern society
• cut university budgets in 1982 forcing unis to find other alternative sources of revenue and increase student intake
• 1988 university funding council created to ensure uni education reflected needs of economy

Question 6

How did one uni protest Thatcher ?

Answer 6

1985 Oxford refused to give Thatcher and honours degree something given to six previous Oxford educated prime ministers since the war