Effects of Marketisation Policies

What are marketisation policies in education?

Marketisation policies refer to the practices that introduce market forces into education, making schools compete for students and funding, thereby treating education as a commodity.

How do marketisation policies impact educational equality?

Marketisation policies can exacerbate educational inequalities, as schools in wealthier areas tend to have more resources and better facilities, attracting more students.

What impact do league tables have on schools?

League tables rank schools based on academic performance, which pressures schools to focus on the results, often neglecting the needs of disadvantaged students.

How do parental choice policies influence educational outcomes?

Parental choice policies allow parents to choose which schools their children attend, which can lead to social segregation and reinforce existing inequalities.

What is the 'hidden curriculum' as influenced by marketisation?

The 'hidden curriculum' refers to the non-academic lessons and social norms that students learn in schools, which can be affected by marketisation due to schools prioritising certain types of behaviours and attitudes to improve their image and results.

What are the advantages of marketisation policies in education?

Advantages include increased competition among schools leading to improved standards, greater parental choice, and potential for innovative teaching methods as schools seek to attract students.

What are some criticisms of marketisation policies in education?

• can lead to the commodification of education

• reduces equality of opportunity

• neglects of the needs of disadvantaged students in favour of those who are more advantaged

How do marketisation policies affect teacher practices?

• pressures teachers to focus on exam results and league table performance

• potentially sacrifices educational depth and creativity in favour of teaching to tests

What role does formula funding play in marketisation?

• allocates resources based on student enrolment figures

• disadvantages schools in low-income areas as they attract fewer students and consequently receive less funding

How do advertising and promotion strategies impact schools?

• improve visibility and attractiveness to parents and students

• create an image-focused approach rather than a purely educational one

What is the relationship between marketisation and social stratification?

marketisation often benefits families with greater resources and knowledge about the education system, leaving those with fewer resources at a disadvantage

How do school mergers and closures relate to marketisation policies?

• based on performance metrics

• results in potential loss of local educational options