social policies

Social policy: What was introduced by the 1944 Education Act?

Compulsory state education up to age 14 and the tripartite system (grammar, secondary modern, technical schools).

Social policy: What was the tripartite system?

A system dividing students into grammar, secondary modern, and technical schools based on the 11+ exam.

Social policy: What was the purpose of the 11+ exam?

To measure innate ability and allocate students to different school types.

Social policy: What were the aims of the 1944 Education Act?

To create a post-war welfare state, reduce ignorance, abolish inequality, and use a fair, scientific selection system.

Social policy: How did the 1944 Act promote social mobility?

By allowing students to attend grammar schools based on 11+ performance.

Social policy: Why did the tripartite system fail?

Technical schools declined, creating a two-tier system of grammar vs secondary modern.

Social policy: What was the effect of labelling in the tripartite system?

Secondary modern students were labelled as failures, limiting opportunities and wasting working-class talent.

Social policy: What is the Marxist critique of the 1944 Act?

The 11+ favoured middle-class students, reproducing inequality.

Social policy: What is the feminist critique of the 1944 Act?

Girls were disadvantaged due to fewer places and higher pass marks.

Social policy: What inequality existed geographically in the tripartite system?

Regional differences in access to grammar schools.

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Social policy: What was the aim of the 1965 Comprehensive system?

To abolish selection at 11+ and provide equal education for all students.

Social policy: Why was the tripartite system replaced?

It was seen as divisive and failed to achieve equality of opportunity.

Social policy: How do comprehensives support equality?

By educating all students together and recognising different development rates.

Social policy: How do catchment areas affect equality?

They limit social mixing as school access depends on location.

Social policy: Why does private education weaken comprehensives?

It allows wealthier families to maintain advantage.

Social policy: How did inequality change under comprehensives?

It shifted from between schools to within schools (streaming/setting).

Social policy: What did Hargreaves and Ball argue?

Comprehensives still reproduce class inequality.

Social policy: Why is the system not fully comprehensive?

Grammar schools still exist in some areas.

Social policy: What are New Right criticisms of comprehensives?

Lack of discipline, falling standards, poor work preparation, reduced competition, limited parental choice.

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Social policy: What is marketisation in education?

The introduction of market forces like competition and choice into education.

Social policy: When did marketisation become central?

After the 1988 Education Reform Act.

Social policy: What are key features of marketisation?

Reduced state control, increased competition, and greater parental choice (parentocracy).

Social policy: What policies support marketisation?

National Curriculum, SATs, GCSEs, A-levels, league tables, Ofsted, open enrolment, tuition fees.

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Social policy: What are specialist schools?

Schools specialising in one subject area.

Social policy: What was the aim of specialist schools?

To increase competition and parental choice.

Social policy: What is a criticism of specialist schools?

Many were not truly specialised and created a false impression of quality.

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Social policy: What are Sure Start centres?

Centres providing childcare, parenting support, and employment advice.

Social policy: What was the aim of Sure Start?

To improve life chances of disadvantaged children.

Social policy: What was the impact of Sure Start?

A small positive effect on SATs but often dominated by middle-class families.

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Social policy: What are city academies?

Schools in deprived areas with extra funding and independence from local authorities.

Social policy: What was the aim of city academies?

To raise standards in underperforming, working-class areas.

Social policy: What is an evaluation of city academies?

Some improved greatly but reduced local authority control and could exclude weaker students.

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Social policy: What is EMA?

A payment of £10-£30 per week to support students staying in education.

Social policy: What was the aim of EMA?

To increase participation in further and higher education.

Social policy: What was a benefit of EMA?

It helped cover hidden costs of education.

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Social policy: What change was made to tuition fees after 2010?

They were tripled to £9,000 per year.

Social policy: What was the aim of raising tuition fees?

To increase competition and standards in universities.

Social policy: What is a Marxist critique of tuition fees?

Education becomes a commodity and students are treated as consumers.

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Social policy: What is the Pupil Premium?

Additional funding (£900-£2400) for disadvantaged students.

Social policy: What is the aim of the Pupil Premium?

To reduce the attainment gap linked to deprivation.

Social policy: What is a criticism of the Pupil Premium?

Funding is often used for general costs rather than targeted support.

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Social policy: What changes were made to GCSEs and A-levels (2016+)?

Linear 2-year courses, reduced coursework, and new 1-9 grading system.

Social policy: What was the aim of these reforms?

To increase rigour, fairness, and international competitiveness.

Social policy: What is a strain theory criticism of exam reforms?

Pressure may lead students/teachers to cheat to improve results.