Role allocation:
Society requires a skilled workforce that is fully qualified
Certain roles require certain aptitudes
Education prepares students for these roles based on their ability
How does education achieve this?
‘Sifts and sorts’ students based on ability
Promotes ideas of social mobility and meritocracy
Most able pupils end up in higher positions in society
Lower ability end up in low-skilled positions
Contemporary applications:
Criticisms:
Marxists: Meritocracy is a myth-making machine
Feminists: Gender pay gap- feminine professions paid less
‘Old school tie’ network
Privately-educated students more advanced
Knowt
