Social Policy and Education in AQA A-Level Sociology

1944 Education Act

Established compulsory education until age 14.

Tri-partite system

Divided schools into Grammar, Secondary Modern, Technical.

11+ exam

IQ test determining grammar school eligibility at age 11.

Grammar schools

Selective schools for top 20% of students.

Secondary Modern schools

Non-selective schools for remaining students.

Technical schools

Specialized schools for vocational education.

Beveridge Report

Identified five social evils: Ignorance, Disease, Squalor, Idleness, and Want.

Comprehensive Education Act 1965

Abolished selection at age 11 for equal education.

Social mobility

Ability to move between social classes.

Meritocracy

System rewarding individuals based on ability.

Geographical catchment areas

Defined school attendance zones affecting social mixing.

Private education

Education system for wealthy families, 7% of UK children.

Inequality within schools

Disparities in student performance and resources.

Hargreaves and Ball

Critics of comprehensive schools reproducing selective systems.

Open enrolment

Parents choose any local state school for children.

Marketisation

Increased competition among schools for funding.

Parentocracy

Parental choice drives school improvement and competition.

Education Reform Act 1988

Introduced testing and league tables for schools.

SATS

Standardized tests for assessing school quality at ages 7 and 11.

National Curriculum

Uniform curriculum across all schools for standardization.

League Tables

Rankings of school performance published for public access.

OFSTED inspections

Regular evaluations of school quality in the UK.

Strain theory

Explains cheating as a response to pressure.

Cultural capital

Resources and knowledge aiding educational success.

Economic capital

Financial resources influencing educational opportunities.

Feminist critique

Criticism of gender disparities in educational access.

Marxist critique

Criticism of class biases in educational assessments.