Sociology: Education: Role of education

Define state schools

Schools funded by the government

Define private schools

Fee-paying schools

Define alternative provision schools

Schools for pupils who cannot be in mainstream education for various reasons

Community schools or maintained schools

Funded by the community

Foundation and voluntary schools

Funded by the local authority, sometimes supported by religious groups with more freedom to do what they want

City Technology Colleges

Geared towards STEM and preparation for work, open to all ability levels. Only 3 in the country currently.

Grammar schools

State secondary schools, free but you must pass the 11+ exam

Academies

State funded and run by the Department of Education, self governing so have more control over what they teach and do not have to follow the national curriculum.

Free schools

All ability, run by the government but not the local authority. Not-for-profit

Faith schools

Must follow the national curriculum but can teach as much religious content as wanted. Different admissions and staffing process.

State boarding school

Pay for board but not for the education

Private/Independent Schools

Free reign for the most part and charge for education

Public schools

Fee paying and well-established, requiring an exam to attend, such as Eton.

International Schools

Cater to an international community and follow international curriculums

Pupil referral units

Pupils are referred to these due to behavioural issues, severe bullying or pregnancy, or for any severe reason as to why they cannot attend mainstream school.

Special Education Schools

Schools for children with significant learning difficulties, physical or mental disabilities, or behavioural issues. Must be specially designed and staffed.

Home schooling

Outside of institutions, can mean a varied education.

Outline 3 points about New Labour Government (1997)

-Wanted to remove all inequalities which were increased by marketisation
-Created league tables to promote competition
-Introduced regular standardised testing

Academies Act (2010)

-All schools encouraged to become academies, cutting out middleman of Local Education Authority and money goes straight to schools
-Created to give schools more freedom under academy status
-Fragmented centralisation

What fragmented centralisation?

The comprehensive system became split up and more diverse.

The Butler Act/The Education Act (1944)

-Introduction of 11+
-Tripartite system

Define the tripartite system

3 types of school, attendance based on results of 11+:
SECONDARY MODERN/TECHNICAL SCHOOLS: Failed 11+, mostly poorer students
GRAMMAR: Passed 11+, around 20% students, mostly richer

Outline 3 points about the Comprehensive system (1965)

-Aimed to overcome class divide
-11+/Grammar schools abolished
-All go to comprehensive schools, sorted by catchment area

Outline 2 points of the Education reform act (1988)

-Allowed schools to opt out of local authority control
-Marketisation/Parentocracy: schools compete for parents

Gerwitz's 3 parental choosers

-PRIVLEDGED SKILLED: Middle/upper classes, take huge interest in children's school and have socioeconomic power through knowing people/being able to buy homes in good catchment areas
-SEMISKILLED: Not as invested, still care? Mostly middle class
-DISCONNECTED: Don't care, whichever is closest, working classes

3 Criticisms of New Labour (1997)

-Increased emphasis on standardised testing limited focus to just test preparation
-Increased inequality as some schools get more funding
-Market driven approach, focus is on attracting students which leads to silt shifting/cream skimming

3 Criticisms of Academies act (2010)

-Similar to tripartite system? Only a 2 tier system
-Less focus on management, more oversights in academies ('profits before pupils' scandal)
-Free schools can still be selective/divisive (set own requirements, cream skimming/silt shifting)

2 criticisms of Butler Act (1944)

-Marxist viewpoint: didn't create meritocracy, channelled middle class kids to Grammar schools
-Feminist viewpoint: Girls pass marks for grammar schools was higher

2 criticisms of Comprehensive system (1965)

-Not helpful as it was optional for local authorities
-Larger schools lacking individual attention

Criticism of Education Reform Act (1988)

Reproduces inequality through funding formulas with already struggling schools

Outline Durkheim

Education meets the needs of society by passing on cultural values and norms (Secondary socialisation)

Outline Parsons

School bridges the gap between home and society, teaching universalistic values etc

Outline Schultz

Investment in education benefits the wider economy, providing a trained workforce.

Outline Davis and Moore

Allows shifting of people into a social hierarchy in a meritocratic society.

Define human capital

The knowledge and skills making someone a valuable economic asset.

Define hidden curriculum

The informal learning in schools that teaches children societal norms and values.

Define particularistic values

Rules only applying in a specific situation i.e., home.

Define universalistic values

Values and rules applicable equally to all of society.

Outline Chubb and Moe

Say Marxists overlook how education fails all social groups not just WC. Education vouchers could help marketise schools. a parentocrasy would raise standards.

Give a criticism of Schultz

Myth of meritocracy- it can’t be a meritocracy if there is private education and hidden costs of education etc

Give a criticism of Durkheim

Ignores the dysfunctional aspects of education, like negative conflict or understaffing.

Outline Wong

Said Functionalists view children as passive puppets of education and ignores the impact of pupil teacher relationships.

Give a criticism of Davis and Moore

There is a very weak link between economic success and educational achievement.

Outline Althusser

Education deliberately engineers working class failure through hidden curriculum.

Give 2 policies aimed to reduce inequality in education

• Education action zones

• Sure Start

What was the aim of policies by the coalition government?

To raise standards and promote marketisation.