SUMMARY

What are the three main functions of education (functionalists)?

Secondary socialisation, role allocation, and providing skills for the economy.

What does Durkheim say education provides?

Secondary socialisation teaching universal norms and values (value consensus).

What is meritocracy according to Parsons?

A system where jobs are based on talent and effort.

How do Davis and Moore describe the role of education?

Education sorts individuals for unequal but necessary roles, creating social stratification.

What does the term 'Parentocracy' refer to in New Right theory?

A system where parents have control over education.

What is the correspondence principle according to Bowles and Gintis?

The idea that school mirrors the workplace, reflecting its hierarchy, discipline, and reward structure.

What do Marxists argue about the education system?

They argue that it spreads ruling-class ideology and creates false class consciousness.

What is cultural capital according to Bourdieu?

The non-financial social assets that promote social mobility in a stratified society.

What does Sugarman argue about working-class values?

He suggests they focus on immediate satisfaction (immediate gratification) rather than deferred gratification.

How do girls outperform boys according to recent statistics?

Girls outperform boys across most measures in educational achievement.

What has contributed to girls' overachievement in education?

Changing attitudes due to feminism, legal changes, and early maturity leading to better language skills.

What is a significant factor affecting boys' underachievement?

The crisis of masculinity as described by Mac an Ghaill.

What factors contribute to the underperformance of black pupils?

Language barriers, cultural differences, and socio-economic factors like lone-parenthood.

What does Becker's theory on labelling suggest?

Labels given by teachers can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies in student performance.

What impact does the 1944 Tripartite System have on education?

It categorises students into different schools based on the 11+ exam, leading to class inequality.

How does the 1988 Education Reform Act affect schools?

It introduced marketisation, including a national curriculum, SATs, league tables, and parental choice.

What critique do Marxists have of the concept of meritocracy?

They argue it's a myth; success in education is affected by class, gender, and ethnicity.

What is the role of the hidden curriculum in education?

It involves unwritten, informal rules and norms learned in schools that shape student behavior.

What is the significance of setting, streaming, and banding in schools?

These practices create institutional labels affecting student expectations and outcomes.