Social Policy

What is social policy in education?

Social policy in education refers to the laws, reforms, and actions introduced by governments and state agencies that affect schools, students, teachers, and educational opportunities.

What is the key debate surrounding education social policy?

Sociologists debate whether education policies improve opportunities and social mobility or reinforce inequality and social control.

What is the functionalist view of education policy?

Functionalists believe education policies generally benefit society by promoting social solidarity, meritocracy, and equal opportunities. Policies such as compulsory schooling help integrate individuals into society.

What does Fletcher argue about social policy?

Fletcher argues there has been a ‘march of progress’ in social policy, with state intervention gradually improving opportunities and quality of life through education, healthcare, and welfare reforms.

What is the Marxist view of education policy?

Marxists argue education policies mainly serve capitalism by reproducing class inequality, preparing workers for exploitation, and legitimising inequality through the myth of meritocracy.

What is the feminist view of education policy?

Feminists argue education policies often reflect patriarchal assumptions and can reinforce gender inequality, although some policies have improved opportunities for girls and women.

What is the New Right view of education policy?

The New Right believes schools should promote discipline, competition, and traditional values. They support marketisation, testing, and parental choice because they believe competition raises standards.

What was the 1944 Education Act?

The 1944 Butler Act made secondary education free and compulsory until age 15 and introduced the tripartite system of grammar schools, secondary moderns, and technical schools.

What was the tripartite system?

A system created by the 1944 Education Act that separated students into three types of secondary school based on the 11-plus exam.

What was the 11-plus exam?

An exam used to determine which type of secondary school children would attend under the tripartite system.

What was the criticism of the tripartite system?

Critics argued it reinforced class inequality because middle-class children were more likely to pass the 11-plus and attend grammar schools.

What were comprehensive schools?

Schools introduced from the 1960s onwards designed to educate all children together regardless of ability or class background.

Why were comprehensive schools introduced?

They were intended to reduce inequality and provide equal educational opportunities for all students.

What was the 1988 Education Reform Act (ERA)?

A major Conservative reform introducing marketisation, the National Curriculum, league tables, Ofsted inspections, and formula funding.

What is marketisation in education?

The introduction of market principles such as competition, parental choice, and school accountability into education.

What are league tables?

Public rankings of schools based on exam results and performance data, introduced to encourage competition.

What is formula funding?

A system where schools receive funding based on the number of pupils they attract.

What is the National Curriculum?

A standardised curriculum introduced in 1988 specifying subjects and content schools must teach.

What is Ofsted?

The Office for Standards in Education, responsible for inspecting and grading schools.

What is parentocracy?

A system where parental wealth, knowledge, and power strongly influence children’s educational opportunities.

What did Ball argue about marketisation?

Ball argued middle-class parents are better able to use marketisation policies to gain advantages for their children through greater cultural and economic capital.

What is cream-skimming?

The process where successful schools attract or select high-achieving, often middle-class students to improve results.

What is silt-shifting?

The process where less successful schools are left with more disadvantaged or lower-achieving students.

What was New Labour’s approach to education policy?

New Labour combined marketisation with policies aimed at reducing inequality and increasing social inclusion.

What was Sure Start?

A New Labour programme providing childcare, education, and health support in disadvantaged areas to improve outcomes for children.

What were Education Action Zones (EAZs)?

Areas receiving extra funding and partnerships with businesses to improve educational standards in deprived communities.

What was EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance)?

A payment to low-income students staying in education after age 16, designed to encourage participation and reduce inequality.

What were academies under New Labour?

State-funded schools independent from local authority control intended to raise standards in disadvantaged areas.

How did Conservative governments expand academies?

Conservative governments rapidly increased the number of academies and free schools, arguing greater independence would improve standards.

What are free schools?

State-funded schools set up by parents, charities, or organisations independent from local authority control.

What is privatisation in education?

The increasing involvement of private companies in running schools, services, and educational resources for profit.

What is globalisation’s impact on education policy?

Globalisation increases international competition, encouraging governments to improve educational standards and workforce skills.

What is vocational education policy?

Policies promoting practical and work-related skills training to prepare students for employment.

What is the ethnocentric curriculum?

A curriculum focused mainly on white British culture and history while ignoring minority ethnic experiences.

What did Coard argue about the curriculum?

Coard argued the ethnocentric curriculum negatively affected black students by ignoring black history and culture.

What is institutional racism in education?

Racism built into educational policies and practices that disadvantages minority ethnic students.

What did Gillborn argue about education policy?

Gillborn argued policies such as marketisation can worsen racial inequalities because black students are more likely to be negatively stereotyped and placed in lower sets.

What is the pupil premium?

Additional funding provided to schools for disadvantaged students to help reduce educational inequality.

What are austerity policies in education?

Government spending cuts affecting schools, teachers, and support services, often criticised for increasing inequality.

How do feminists criticise education policies?

Feminists argue many policies fail to challenge gender stereotypes and inequalities in subject choice, careers, and leadership roles.

What is the significance of equal opportunities policies?

Policies promoting equal treatment regardless of gender, ethnicity, or disability helped reduce some educational inequalities.

What was the Equality Act 2010?

A law protecting individuals from discrimination on grounds such as gender, race, religion, sexuality, and disability.

What is the academisation debate?

Supporters argue academies improve standards through independence and competition, while critics argue they increase inequality and privatisation.

What is the Marxist criticism of education social policy?

Marxists argue policies mainly benefit capitalism and the middle class while reproducing inequality and legitimising exploitation.

What is the functionalist ‘march of progress’ view of education policy?

The idea that education policies gradually improve opportunities, fairness, and living standards over time.

What is the New Right criticism of comprehensive education?

The New Right argues comprehensive schools reduce competition and lower educational standards.

What is the feminist criticism of the New Right approach?

Feminists argue the New Right promotes traditional gender roles and ignores structural inequalities faced by women.

What is the significance of compulsory education laws?

They ensure children receive education and socialisation while preparing them for adult roles in society.

What is the hidden curriculum?

The hidden curriculum refers to the informal lessons taught in schools such as obedience, punctuality, and acceptance of authority.

How do Marxists view the hidden curriculum?

Marxists argue it prepares working-class students for exploitation and obedience within capitalist workplaces.

What is educational selection?

The process of separating students by ability, achievement, or social background.

Why is educational selection controversial?

Critics argue it reproduces class inequality because middle-class students are more likely to access higher-status schools and opportunities.

What is the purpose of league tables according to the New Right?

League tables increase competition, improve accountability, and allow parents to choose the best schools.

What is the criticism of league tables?

Critics argue they encourage teaching to the test, stress, cream-skimming, and inequality between schools.

What did Gewirtz find about parental choice?

Gewirtz found middle-class parents were more skilled at using educational markets because they had greater economic and cultural capital.

What are privileged-skilled choosers?

Gewirtz’s term for middle-class parents who use their cultural and economic capital to successfully secure places at desirable schools.

What are disconnected-local choosers?

Gewirtz’s term for working-class parents who have fewer resources and less confidence navigating school choice systems.

What is the pupil premium?

Additional government funding given to schools for disadvantaged students to reduce educational inequality.

What was the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)?

A payment introduced by New Labour for low-income students staying in post-16 education, later abolished by the Coalition government.

What is Sure Start?

A New Labour programme providing childcare, parenting support, health care, and early education in deprived areas.