Education Practice Flashcards (Vocabulary)

These flashcards provide definitions for key sociological terms and educational concepts found in the Unit 5 lecture notes, covering theories (Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism), types of schooling, and factors of achievement.

Global differences in education

Differences in educational provision (services), outcomes, and experience in different countries and regions of the world.

Educational inequality

When different groups are treated or educated differently or have different levels of educational achievement, often based on social class, ethnicity, and gender.

Educational achievement

How well individuals do in the school system, usually measured by exam results.

Social class

A major influence on educational achievement relating to family privilege and background; historically, schools were mainly for those from the most privileged families.

Two-tier system

An educational structure consisting of (i) no schooling or very basic schooling for most children, and (ii) a privileged education for the few.

Material deprivation

Being unable to afford material goods which most people in a given society would see as necessities.

Operationalise

The process of turning something (such as social class) into something measurable for statistics.

Free school meals

In the UK, an indicator used by sociologists and statisticians to measure social class in schools; children receiving them are assumed to be from lower social class backgrounds with lower incomes.

Grade 4

The equivalent of a $Grade C$ in UK GCSEs; statistics mention $36\%$ of children eligible for free school meals achieve this or higher in Maths and English, compared to $66\%$ of non-disadvantaged children.

Cognitive disadvantage

When children from lower-income backgrounds start primary school behind others in their mental development because of factors like a lack of preschool education.

Digital technology

Access to laptops, tablets, and the internet, which has become increasingly important for success, particularly during the COVID-19 school closures.

Social factors

Things that affect lifestyle and life chances, such as wealth, religion, and occupation.

Cultural deprivation

A theory describing underachievement rooted in values and attitudes (such as fatalism or lack of interest) rather than a lack of money.

Fatalistic attitude

The feeling that one is not in control of their own destiny and cannot change their prospects, potentially leading to the belief that there is no point in studying.

Immediate gratification

Being unable to see the benefits of long-term rewards and choosing to start earning money as soon as possible rather than continuing education.

Deferred gratification

Believing in the reward of long-term study to eventually bring a higher-pay and higher-status career; middle-class individuals are described as more likely to believe in this.

Cultural capital

Knowledge, taste, and values associated and linked with the higher classes; a concept developed by French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu.

Economic capital

Being better off financially, allowing parents to spend more on education, such as tutors or books.

Home factors

Factors in a child's home background, such as visits to museums or the presence of educational books, that affect how they do in school.

Linguistic factors

Cultural factors relating to the type of language children speak, which can impact educational achievement.

Restricted code

A type of language used for informal everyday spoken communication with friends and family, often with limited vocabulary and implicit meanings.

Elaborated code

A type of language used for formal occasions and in textbooks, which is explicit and used to express complex and abstract ideas.

Compensatory education

Educational policies including financial aid and extra tutoring which aim to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds and close the achievement gap.

In-school factors

Factors within the school environment, such as rules, teacher expectations, and peer groups, that affect educational achievement.

Pro-school subculture

A group of learners whose norms and values agree with those of the school, such as studying hard and following rules.

Anti-school subcultures

A group of learners whose norms and values reject those of the school, also known as counter-school subcultures.

Truanting

Missing lessons or whole school days without permission.

Private education

Education in fee-paying schools that often provide smaller class sizes, better facilities, and selective networks.

Selective education

When schools choose their learners, usually based on academic ability or academic potential.

False consciousness

A Marxist idea suggesting that working-class people do not realize they are being exploited and are unaware that shared values favor the bourgeoisie.

Marxism

A sociological perspective that views education as a tool to indoctrinate the working class into a capitalist value system based on the ideology of the ruling class.

Bourgeoisie

The ruling class in Marxist theory that controls power and ensures its children inherit privilege through specific types of schooling.

Official curriculum

The subjects that are taught and the specific content intended to be covered in a school system.

Hidden curriculum

What learners learn in school apart from lesson content, such as respect for authority, punctuality, and the acceptance of hierarchy.

Myth of Meritocracy

The Marxist argument that equality of opportunity does not actually exist and that success depends more on background than talent or effort.

Streaming

When children are taught all subjects in classes with other children of a similar ability.

Setting

When children are taught a particular subject with other children of a similar ability.

Patriarchy

A society or organization, including schools, in which men are dominant and women are subordinate.

Gender hierarchy

A system where one gender has a higher status than the other; in schools, this is seen when men hold more positions of authority like headteacher.

Role models

People someone looks up to and tries to be like; their presence or absence affects subject choices and career ambitions.

Gendered curriculum

When the content of teaching has a bias toward one gender, such as focusing on male achievements in history or male authors in literature.

Functionalism

A sociological perspective focusing on how education contributes to the well-being and maintenance of society through socialisation and skill-building.

Social control

The function of education where children learn to follow rules, control their behavior, and avoid sanctions.

Economic function

The role of education in ensuring society has enough people with the training and qualifications needed to keep the economy going.

Meritocracy

A system in which individuals reach social positions they deserve based on their educational achievement, talent, and effort.

Social mobility

The movement of individuals or groups up or down the social hierarchy.

Role allocation

Sorting individuals into appropriate jobs and roles based on their achievement and abilities in school.

Sifting and sorting

The process by which the education system assesses children's abilities to guide them toward appropriate career paths.

Value consensus

A widespread agreement on values that creates a sense of belonging and shared interest within a society.

Standardised testing

When all learners take the same assessments which are marked in the same way, allowing marks to be compared globally.

Vocationalism

Vocational education that prepares people for a particular trade, craft, or profession, leading directly into work.

Faith schools

Schools linked to a particular religion or faith that promote that faith through their ethos and curriculum.

International schools

Schools that deliver alternative education to local schools, often offering internationally recognized qualifications like the International Baccalaureate.

Distance learning

Where a learner works in their own home following a course designed by educationalists; often interactive through MOOCs.

Online learning

Distance education delivered electronically via the internet using digital technology.

Homeschooling

Education of school-aged children in the home rather than at a formal school, often with parents or tutors.

Unschooling

Informal learning without lessons or a curriculum, in which the learner chooses what and how to learn.

Progressive schooling

Education which breaks away from traditional lessons and curriculum to focus on experience, critical thinking, and social skills.

State schools

Also called public schools in some countries, these are run and funded directly or indirectly by local or national government.

Non-selective education

Schools which accept all learners regardless of ability, usually based on a catchment area.

Single-sex schools

Schools which only accept either male or female students.

Co-educational schools

Schools which accept both male and female learners together.

Socialisation

The process of learning the norms and values of a culture.

Informal education

Education that takes place outside the classroom or through daily interactions with family and community.

Formal education

Education that takes place in classrooms with professional teachers and set content.

Norms

Behavior that societies expect of their members in particular situations.

Values

Standards shared by members of a culture and used to judge if behavior is right or wrong.