views on education

What do functionalists believe about education?

Education is a positive institution that promotes social stability, cohesion and prepares individuals for adult roles in society.

What is social solidarity according to Durkheim?

Education transmits shared norms and values, helping individuals feel part of society.

How do schools act as a mini-society (Durkheim)?

Schools teach rules, cooperation and respect for authority, preparing students for adult life and work

What did Parsons say about education?

Education acts as a bridge between family and wider society.

What are particularistic standards?

Judging individuals based on personal relationships

What are universalistic standards?

Judging everyone by the same rules and standards

What is meritocracy?

A system where success is based on effort and ability rather than background.

What is role allocation (Davis & Moore)?

Education sorts individuals into jobs based on talent and ability.

Give one criticism of functionalism.

It ignores inequalities based on class, gender and ethnicity.

What do Marxists believe about education?

Education reproduces class inequality and supports capitalism.

What is an Ideological State Apparatus (Althusser)?

Institutions like schools that spread ruling-class ideology and maintain capitalism.

What is the hidden curriculum?

Unwritten lessons in school such as obedience, punctuality and accepting authority.

What is the correspondence principle (Bowles & Gintis)?

School structures mirror workplace hierarchies, preparing pupils for capitalist jobs

What did Willis study?

Working-class boys (“lads”) who rejected school authority and formed anti-school subcultures.

What did Willis conclude?

Even when resisting school, working-class boys still ended up in working-class jobs.

Give one criticism of the Marxist view of education.

It is deterministic and assumes pupils passively accept ideology.

What do feminists argue about education?

Education can reinforce patriarchy and gender inequality.

What did Oakley argue about gender and education?

Gender socialisation influences subject choice.

What did Weiner say about the curriculum?

It is male-centred, with women underrepresented.

What did Mitsos & Browne find about achievement?

Girls perform better in coursework, while boys are often less organised

Give one criticism of feminist views of education.

Girls now outperform boys in many subjects, suggesting progress.

What do the New Right believe about education?

Education should operate like a market with competition between schools.

What did Chubb & Moe argue?

Private schools outperform state schools because competition increases standards.

What policy changes support the New Right view?

League tables, parental choice and competition between schools.

Give one criticism of New Right education policies.

Middle-class parents benefit more from school choice, increasing inequality.

What is material deprivation?

Lack of physical resources affecting education

What did Bernstein (1971) say about speech codes?

Working-class use restricted code, middle-class use elaborated code.

What did Douglas find?

Parental interest in education strongly affects achievement.

What is cultural capital

Knowledge, language and attitudes valued by the education system

Give one criticism of cultural deprivation theory.

It blames working-class families rather than structural inequality.

What is labelling?

When teachers express pr attach expectations to pupils based on behaviour, class or ability.

What did Becker find about the “ideal pupil”?

Teachers see middle-class pupils as the ideal.

What is a self-fulfilling prophecy?

A prediction that becomes true because people act according to expectations.

What is educational triage (Gillborn & Youdell)?

Teachers prioritise pupils most likely to improve league table results.

What is the general gender pattern in achievement?

Girls outperform boys at GCSE and A-level.

Give factors explaining girls’ achievement.

• Feminism and changing family roles have raised aspirations.

• socialisation

• peer groups, more comprehensive activities

Give one criticism of gender explanations.

Working-class girls still underperform compared to middle-class girls.

Which ethnic groups achieve the highest grades in the UK?

Chinese and Indian pupils.

Which Ethnic groups often underachieve?

Black Caribbean and Gypsy/Roma pupils.

What did Sewell argue affects Black boys’ achievement?

peer pressure and lack of father figures.

What is institutional racism (Gillborn & Youdell)?

School policies and practices that systematically disadvantage ethnic minorities.

What is the Pygmalion Effect (Rosenthal & Jacobson)?

Teacher expectations can improve pupil performance.

What did Rist (1970) find about ability grouping?

kindergarten teachers used social class—not academic ability—to create "ability groups"

What is polarisation (Lacey)?

pupils split into pro-school and anti-school subcultures.

What did the 1944 Education Act introduce?

The tripartite system (grammar, secondary modern, technical schools). where the 11+ exam determined school placement

What were comprehensive schools designed to do?

Reduce inequality due to technical schools being underdeveloped; by merging grammar and secondary modern schools together