social policy - LABOUR

Question 1

ALL of the new labour policies aimed to reduce inequality

Answer 1

• specialist schools as centres of excellence in certain areas such as sport or humanities
• creation of education action zones in deprived areas given funding
• EMA payment for pupils from lower income families, now phased out
• sure start for under fives to help early intervention for younger families
• increased funding for state education
• introduced ‘numeracy and literacy hour’ in primary schools
• aim higher programme for pupils whose parents had not been to UNI
• 1998 tuition fees to pay for expansion in higher education

Question 2

what was the introduction of the academies?

(new labour policies)

Answer 2

• introduction of the academies that were originally brought in for failing schools in deprived areas
• they could attract sponsorship from businesses, faiths and charities

Question 3

what happened to education/academies in:

the coalition government educational policy (2010)

Answer 3

• more marketisation policies
• all schools could now apply to become an academy
• by 2012 over half of all schools became academies

Question 4

how do academies differ from ordinary schools?

Answer 4

• academies are independent, state funded schools which receive their funding directly from central government instead of local authority
• day to day running is by a principle but the academies are overseen by charitable bodies called academy trusts which provide support and advice and strategic overview
• academies control their own admissions policies and have more freedom to innovate

Question 5

why did the government think that academies were beneficial?

Answer 5

• argue academies drive up standards by putting more power in the hands of head teachers over pay, length of school day, and term times
• they have more freedom to innovate and can opt out of the national curriculum so can cater more to children and change what they like e.g. school day length (parentocracy)
• it says they have been shown to improve twice as fast as state schools whilst others dispute this

Question 6

what are some criticisms of academies?

Answer 6

• some MPs have criticised the lack of oversight, in terms of finance and public accountability
• teaching unions argue it is a way of privatising the education system while the government say it is a way to introduce innovation
• private providers run ‘chains’ of schools which grow fast and take on more schools then they can manage. led to largest chain being shut.
• OFSTED criticise by saying academies fail to improve the results of children whilst paying board members larger salaries, but also recognise successes.

Question 7

ACADEMIES SUMMARY

how did they come about?

what do they do?

Answer 7

• originally brought in by new labour for failing schools but now open to all
• state maintained but run independently
• free from LEA (local education authority) control
• control own budget
• can adapt national curriculum
• set pay/conditions for staff
• set times/term dates
• get extra funding from government
• showed some success in exams results - more to do with alternative exams

Question 8

what is a free school?

Answer 8

• supported by coalition government
• based on parental demands for different types of schools
• could be run by a variety of people like religious groups or businesses
• first ones opened in september 2011
• grant given £500,000 to open
• teachers do not have to have teaching qualifications

Question 9

what are the problems with academies and free schools?

BALL

Answer 9

fragmentation
- the education system has broken up and replaced by a ‘patchwork’ of providers