Topic 6 Policy Flashcards
(58 cards)
- What is social policy?
The actions, plans and programmes of government bodies and agencies that seek to solve a problem and achieve a goal.
What do Ball and Whitty say about parentocracy?
- parentocracy is a myth
- parents are presented as consumers with free choice but this is false
- middle class are favoured, more informed and have better resources to shop for the best schools
What did the 1988 Education Reform Act introduce
- introduced the national curriculum
- introduced technology colleges
- introduced testing (GCSEs) and league tables
- introduced marketisation
- What is parentocracy?
It means rule by the parents. Supporters of marketisation argue that in an education market, power shifts away from the producers (teachers and schools) to the consumers (parents).
According to Bartlett, why does marketization create inequalities?
- Marketisation leads to school’s silt-shifting and cream skimming pupils. (Bartlett)
- ethnic minorities and working-class pupils aren’t seen as ideal to the schools, so at a disadvantage
- Schools want to maintain a high position on the league table therefore they do not select students that they believe will bring their position down.
- What kind of policies do the New Right like?
They like the marketisation of education as they believe it encourages competition and make schools more accountable.
Which policy did New Labour introduce to combat inequality?
They introduced Education Action Zones which were established in areas of high deprivation and low levels of achievement in aim to boost the education achievements of those in disadvantaged areas.
What is EMA 2005?
Students are given additional funding to stay in education after 16
What is the 1944 Education act and what did it introduce?
- education began to be shaped by he idea of meritocracy
- made everyone do an exam at age 11
- created the tripartite system - children put into 3 different schools according to their ability (grammar, secondary modern, technical)
how did the tripartite system create inequality?
- produced class inequality by channelling the two social classes into two different types of schools that offered unequal opportunities
- produced gender inequality by requiring girls to get higher marks
what did the comprehensive system aim to do?
- overcome the class divide of the tripartite system and make education more meritocratic
- abolished the 11+ exam
what are the disadvantages of the comprehensive system?
- legitimated inequality as all students now go to the same school, making it appear like there’s equal oppurtunity but there’s not
how can the national curriculum be criticised?
- it has the opposite effect
- led to an increase in setting, pupils out into different levels of exams based on their view of their ability
- national curriculum can be seen as a step backwards in terms of equality
what is formula funding?
where schools receive the same amount of funding for each pupil
what is open enrolment?
allows successful schools to recruit more pupils
why do post modernists argue marketisation policies reproduce choice?
- there’s more diversity in schools, curriculums and qualifications
- more diverse range of students in schools
- we aren’t restricted by class, gender, ethnicity
what do ball and whitty argue about marketisation policies?
marketisation policies like league tables and formula funding reproduce class inequality by creating inequalities between schools
why does formula funding reproduce inequality?
- popular schools get more funding so can afford better teachers and resources
- they can be more selective and attract middle class students
- unpopular schools fail to attract students and loose funding
what does rebecca allen argue free schools?
free schools only benefit children from highly educated families
what did multi cultural education aim to promote?
aim to promote the achievements of children from minority ethnic backgrounds by valuing all cultures within the curriculm
How does Stone criticise multicultural policies?
- stone argues black people do not fail due to lack of self esteem and these policies are misguided
- fails to challenge racism
how does Mirza criticise social inclusion policies?
Mirza argues there’s been little genuine change in policy and it is too soft. Policy needs to tackle the structural causes of ethnic inequality
how do the new right criticise multi cultural education?
the new right criticise it for perpetuating cultural divisions, they believe education should promote a shared national culture
why are assimilation policies seen negatively?
- ethnic minorities must adopt the values of british culture, rather than recognising diversity, we must all be the same