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.

Empty Shell Marriages...

Here is a living example of empty shell marriages!

Read this article here for the reasons.. it is a growing phenomenon...

Examine the reasons for changes in the Divorce rate...

Here is what the examiners said about this question...


"Many candidates showed a good awareness of a number of factors influencing divorce rates,
but some lacked any real depth or detail. For example, the Divorce Reform Act (1969) was
often mentioned but only a minority could provide any detail about it beyond the fact that ‘it
made divorce easier’. Indeed a number of candidates thought that divorce was either prohibited
before 1969 or only available to men. Weaker answers tended to be simply lists of reasons,
while more able candidates were able to explain how the reasons suggested could impact on
divorce rates, and also to discuss the relative importance of various factors. Many candidates
included a lot of tangential material that deflected from their answer. This was often material on
the effects of divorce or material on reasons for cohabitation. Candidates must read the
question carefully and address it explicitly in their answer."

Have a look at this article here which gives a brief history of Divorce legislation. 

The Divorce Reform Act came in to effect over 40 years ago - what has been the impact of this piece of legislation?

An increase in the divorce rate?
Greater equality for women?
What would the New Right say about the Divorce Reform Act?

How to revise...

'Tis the season of revision!

You have 7 topics to revise, here are some ideas to help you along the way...

1. Mindmaps 
2. Cue cards with key words and definitions
3. Cue cards with sociologists and theories
4. Summarise everything you need to know about a topic on to a piece of A4 paper, then test yourself - can you remember it all!
5. Record yourself talking about a topic then listen to it whilst you are asleep (ask Medis about that one!)
6. Completing past paper questions

Hello!

I have uploaded lots of useful things to Fronter...

Model answers

Revision questions

A Ppt containing a list of sociologists and what they thought

A revision work book

Enjoy :)