Sociology- Education- Educational Policy In The UK

What was the 1870 Education for All Act?

Forster Act- created 'elementary schools'- no more church schools. Provided some free education up to age 10. In 1880 schools were compulsory for ages 5-13.

Advantages of Education For All (1870)

-Everyone is entitled to a basic education level

-Patch work provision (filed in the gaps)

-Government taking responsibility (no more laissez faires)

Disadvantages of Education For All (1870)

-Not popular among parents (limited household income)

-Education quality was varied

-Government had to pay

What was the 1944 Butler Act?

Creation of formal, state funded education. Students would sit an 11+ exam and sent to one of three types of school: grammar (selection by ability), secondary technical (fewer- for more specialised subjects) or secondary modern (left overs). This was called the tripartite system.

Advantages of 1944 Butler Act

-Meritocratic (judged on merit) system, leading to social mobility.

-Grammar schools were surrounded with people who want to learn.

Disadvantages of 1944 Butler Act

-Only 25% passed 11+, leading to a psychological impact for those who failed.

-Resulted in secondary modern's being overcrowded and demotivated.

-Not everyone has the same opportunities to pass the 11+ leading to a social divide between schools. (only 3% of grammar schools were FSM)

What was the 1965 Comprehensive Act?

British Government (Labour), back the move to move to comprehensive schools by introducing the 'CSE' (Certificate of Secondary Education). Organisation of secondary education reinstated the request that LEA's should submit plans for comprehensivation. Based on catchment area.

Advantages of 1965 Comprehensive Act

-Do not have to take 11+ (takes away the stress)

-Mixture of classes in schools

-Mixed ability classes/teaching

Disadvantages of 1965 Comprehensive Act

-Dimming down education (children not getting academic opportunity)

-Doesn't take away private schools

-Social mobility is taken away

-Divided catchment areas (in good school areas, house prices went up 20k)

What was the 1988 Education Act?

Parents are given more choice over which school to send children too through open enrolment and formula funding. Schools were encouraged to compete for students. League tables and Ofsted reports published, SATS and National curriculum introduced.

Advantages of 1988 Education Act

-Creation if a Parentocracy

-Ofsted means bad schools have no where to hide

-National Curriculum means all schools teach the same

-Clear achievement data means we can know how good/bad a school is

-You can opt for a school

Disadvantages of 1988 Education Act

-Good schools can be more selective

-Schools have more control

-Prospectus costs a lot

-Creativity is stifled

-Oversubscribed schools get to select through criteria

-Ofsted is driven by data only

-Testing causes unnecessary stress

What were the 1997-2010 New Labour Reforms?

Extended provision of specialist and faith schools. Introduced trust schools. Introduced 'city academies' to replace failing schools. A-Levels split into AS and A2. Tuition fees introduced. CEP Policies: literary and numeracy policy, EMA's, aim higher programme, increased school leaving age to 18.

Advantages of 1997-2010 New Labour Reforms

-Stopped NEETS leaving school at 16

-Raised standards in education

Disadvantages of 1997-2010 New Labour Reforrms

-EMA's were an unpleasant system (based on ability and attendance which is harder for those who qualify and was given to children so not always going to be spent on schools)

-Increased social division

What were 2010-2015 Coalition Policies?

Conservative and Liberal. Academies Act (2010)- All schools encouraged to leave local authority control and become an academy, funding controlled by them as well as curriculum. Free School Meals introduced for reception, Y1 and Y2. Pupil Premium (additional funding) introduced. Free schools introduced.

Advantages of 2010-2015 Coalition Policies

-Schools have more power and independence

-Allows families not to worry about children not having hot meals and takes away need to apply.

Disadvantages of 2010-2015 Coalition Policies

-Less accountability from the Government

-Leads to corruption (Bright Tribe Academy)

-What happens afterwards for kids who have free school meals

-Free schools lead to radicalisation and cream skimmimg.

What are the 2015 Conservative Policies?

-National curriculum changed (GCSES's made more academically challenging by coursework being scrapped)

-Progress 8 introduced (measure of school performance)

-Funding cuts of 8%

-T-Levels

-Encouragement for EBACC'

-More Grammar Schools

-30 hrs free child care

Advantages of 2015 Conservative Policies

-Progress 8 means more accountability for education quality.

-Giving children a better quality education

-T-Levels means that there is more freedom for education post 16

-Pupil Premium helps disadvantaged

-30 hrs free child care helps parents return to work

Disadvantages of 2015 Conservative Policies

-Changing GCSE's makes it harder for those who find it more academically challenging

-Funding cuts means that schools don't have the money to provide for education

-Grammar schools means more separation

-EBACC means creativity is stifled.

What is Marketisation?

The process of introducing market forces of consumer choice/consumption into education

How did New Labour enforce Marketisation?

-League Tables

-Open Enrolment

-Formula Funding

What does Will Bartlett argue League Tables do?

-Cream Skimming: Good schools can be selective, pupils have an advantage

-Silt Shifting: Good schools avoid taking less abled to achieve good results.

-Impacts funding because with unpopular schools losing income.

What does Gerwitz say about parental choice?

-Marketisation policies benefit the middle class and those who have economic and cultural capital.

-She identified 3 types of parents

--> Privileged Skilled Choosers (Professional middle class who use economic/cultural capital to give schools better schooling.

--> Disconnected Local Choosers (Working class parents restricted by lack of capital)

--> Semi Skilled Choosers (These are mainly working class but are ambitious for children however can't afford to pay)

What does Ball believe about the myth of parentocracy?

Marketisation gives the allusion of a parentocracy.

What does Rebecca Allen argue about Coalition 2010 Policies?

Research from Sweden shows that free schools only benefit those from the middle classes.

What does Ball argue about Coalition 2010 Policies?

Promoting free schools and academies has led to fragmentation.

What do Leckie and Goldstein argue about Conservative 2015 Policies?

School performance measures derive from pupil scores that do not allow variation in pupil background favour schools with more educationally advantages pupils in their intakes. This effects their Progress 8 schools.

What do Gorard and Siddiqui argue about Conservative 2015 Policies?

There are 3 main claims which are made in support of increasing number of grammar schools: pupils at selective grammar schools get better results, poorest students in grammar schools get exceptionally better results and grammar schools do not harm other schools in the local areas. But they do say that there is no evidence to support these claims.

What is the privatisation of education?

When services which were once owned by the state are transferred to private companies.

What do Ball and Youdell argue about the privatisation of education?

Say that there is exogenous privatisation (privatisation from an outside influence) and endogenous privatisation (running schools like businesses- mercerisation policies)

What are some examples of exogenous privatisation?

-Building and maintaining of school buildings.

-Running Examination Systems

-Academy set up

-Brand Loyalty (Tesco/Cadbury)

-Expansion of Education services industry (Apple)

-The Cola-isation of education.

What are the pro's of privatisation?

-Schools do not have to fundraise

-Saves the Government money

-Kids getting a better education

-Keeps costs down

What are the con's of privatisation?

-About profit not education

-Lack of accountability

-Can't regulate exam boards

-Schools have less control.

-Creates a smoke screen.

What is globalisation of the education system?

Increased interconnectedness of the world. Has impact on schooling and policy.

What is globalisation's impact on schooling?

-Required language support in UK schools

-Coding added to curriculum

-Digital divide

-PISA

What is globalisations impact on policy?

-Prevent Strategy

-Ethnic minority achievement grant

-Free schools

-British values policy

-Marxists: education is becoming a global commodity

-Postmodernists: education will reflect the recognition of new cultural difference.