KEY SOCIAL POLICIES

MARKETISATION POLICIES

  • 1988 NATIONAL CURRICULUM - reduced pupil’s freedom to choose or drop subjects with most being compulsory until 16, from the age of 5-16 year olds all pupils must study 3 core subjects (maths, english and science) and 7 foundation subjects, pupils were tested in the core subjects (SATS) and results provided parents with information on which to judge the performance of schools

  • 1988 EDUCATION REFORM ACT - established the national curriculum for all state schools in England and Wales and a national system of testing and assessing, used to measure how well schools are performing and considered the start of marketisation, SATS tests, GCSEs, league tables, budgeting powers for headteachers, formula funding, open enrolment,

  • Publication of school league tables

  • business sponsorship of schools

  • schools being able to opt out of LEA control

  • OFSTED inspection reports available for parents to look at when choosing schools

  • City academies created to give a fresh start to struggling inner-city schools with mainly w/c students

  • formula funding

  • fragmented centralisation

  • keeping Grammar schools (often considered a form of ‘hidden marketisation’ as keeping them has allowed for a parentocracy to be created)

PRIVATISATION POLICIES

  • Free Schools (2010)

  • Cola-isation of schools

  • Academies


OTHER POLICIES

  • GIST AND WISE (encourages girls into STEM, occured in the early 1980s)

  • FORSTER ACT (1870) made the state responsible for the education of 5-10 year olds, first major piece of gov legislation on education, free state education

  • 1880 EDUCATION ACT - act made education compulsory for 5-10 year olds

  • teachers now undertake courses educating them and preventing labelling

  • FISHER ACT 1918 - schooling was free and compulsory up until the age of 14, state became responsible for secondary education, education was still divided along social class lines, with a fe epaying secondary system available to those who could afford it

  • 1944 BUTLER ACT - different types of secondary education available, allocated to a school dependent on their percieved ability, measured through the 11+ exam (IQ test) and they were held i. the same ‘parity of esteem’

  • COMPREHENSIVISATION - 1965 - all schools now the same,all schools have the same status

  • GNVQS (1992/3) and YTS (1983), also known as ‘new vocationalism’

  • NEW LABOUR - Surestart Centres (2000), EMA (£30 a week for sixth form aged students), City Centre Academies, Excellence in cities (1999-2006, designed to raise educational standards and improve social inclusion in deprived urban schools It focused on targeted funding, smaller class sizes, and "Gifted and Talented" programs. While boosting Mathematics and overall attainment, it had limited impact on English/Science)

  • COALITION - Universal FSM to yr2, Pupil Premium

  • Education Action Zones (1990s)

  • Education Priority Areas (1960s)

  • Operation Headstart (1960s)

  • 1970 Equal pay act

  • 1975 sex discrimation act

  • 1969 divorce act

  • 2006 EQUALITY ACT - ‘gender equality duty’ was introduced in April 2007 (need to promote equality between men and women)

  • SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT (amended 2005) sex discrimination in education is unlawful

  • removal of coursework from GCSEs (2015, done to favour boys)

  • Changes to linear exams (linear, high stakes exams were favoured from 2015, which increased high grades for boys since 2017

  • MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS - has led to progress but girls continue to suffer serious disadvantages and exlusions in many education systems, correlates with an increased focus on girls education, focus on ‘global citizenship’ and a growth in international partnerships

  • PLAYING FOR SUCCESS - professional sports clubs to boost literacy, numeracy, and ICT skills in underachieving pupils aged 10-14

  • EYFS FOREST SCHOOLS - 1993 (conservative) to foster holistic development through regular, risky, child-led outdoor play

  • BREAKTHOUGH PROGRAMMES - 2005 Introduced mentoring, after school classes and e-tutorials for teenage boys in an attempt to improve their exam performance
    For example this could include; matching teaching styles with boys learning skills, help improve commitment and enthusiasm, making lessons more hand-on, and choosing texts that were more user friendly for boys