The New Right

brief

Not a sociological perspective, they are a political functionalist

Believe in meritocracy, competition and shared values

New right suggests the education system is failing

Policies

Influenced conservative government policies and, to some degree, the Labour Government

(Marketisation policies)

Chubb and Moe

1990

• Education system fails to produce pupils with the skills needed by employers

• Researched 1000 state schools and private schools in America

• Students from poorer backgrounds do 5% better in private schools that state schools

• Because private schools answer to consumers

• Education market is crucial in driving standards and efficiency

• Favours parentocracy

• Rising standards are a result f globalisation, global economy

Direct evaluation

• Gerwirtz

• Competition only benefits middle class – economic and cultural capital – access to desirable schools

• Real cause of low education standards is social inequality and inadequate funding

• Money will likely be spent of funding rather than facilities and equipment

indirect evaluation

Functionalism

• Schools are efficient and successful at producing a skilled workforce

Marxism

• New right say that students are socialised into a national identity, Marxists argue this is due to dominant capitalist ideas