Revision note on education

This link here has a good summary of the functionalist/marxist view of education!

Assess the effects of policies 'designed to create and education market' in the UK

Assess the effects of policies 'designed to create and education market' in the UK

This question is all about marketisation and parentocracy - whether it has been a success? And whether it is a good thing?

In your introduction you should explain the concept of marketisation - what is it, when did it come about?

In part 1 of your essay you need to explain how Governments have attempted to make the education system more competitive. These are the things you need to consider in part 1:

• Parentocracy
• League tables
• OFSTED
• Specialist schools
• School open days

In part 2 you need to EVALUATE the marketisation of schools - has it been successful? is the education system competitive? is the marketisation of school a good thing?

Think about the following things:

• The 'myth of parentocracy'
• Cultural capital
• Legitimisation of inequalities

Gove and education policy

Key proposals:

*GCSEs to be abolished and replaced by new English Baccalaureate Certificate (EBC).

*Each of the five EBC subject areas - English, maths, science, languages - ancient and modern - and humanities will only be offered by one exam board on a five-year contract through a bidding system.

*English, maths and science certificates will be taught from 2015 with first students examined in them in 2017.  The others will be subject consultation.

*Vast majority of pupils expected to take new certificate - as with current GCSEs.  Those who might struggle to achieve it could be given until 18 to take it instead of 16.

*New certificate should be tested via end-of-course exam with coursework, controlled assessment and any other form of internal assessment abolished or kept to an absolute minimum.  Modules also to be abolished removing the right of pupils to resit them to boost their grades.

*Ban on exam aids - such as calculators for maths, periodic tables in chemistry and source materials in history and geography - to be considered so exams are true test of pupils' knowledge.

*All students not entered for the new EBC will be given a “statement of achievement” spelling out their strengths and weaknesses.  All who fail to get top grades in English and maths will continue to study these subjects until 18.

Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

Link 4

League Tables

The Education Reform Act (1988) introduced the idea of competition between schools.

Parents could compare schools based on performance, i.e. their exam results. The league table was born. Have a look at these two links for information about the UK league tables HERE and HERE.  Which is the best school in your area?

Have a look HERE for league tables for secondary schools. This article HERE talks about the problems of school league tables.

Something to think about:

Is measuring the number of GCSE's students get the best way to rank our schools? What about performance in Sport or Music? What about students who move from an E grade to a C grade? That is amazing progress!

Grammar Schools

The Butler Act introduced the tripartite system of education where children were streamed according to ability.

Those who passed the 11 plus entrance exam went to Grammar schools, those who didn't went to their local secondary modern. There has been much debate about the tripartite system. Marxists and socialists criticised it declaring that it reinforced capitalist values and inequality. This link HERE shows criticisms of the tripartite system.

In the 1970's the tripartite system was replaced with the Comprehensive system. This was meant to bring greater equality. Some Grammar schools do remain - there is fierce competition for places at these schools.. Children recieivng 100 hours of tutiton in an attempt to guarnatee their place. 

Have a look at this link HERE and HERE for more information. Have a look at this article HERE which claims that grammar schools can actually boost social mobility.