Globalisation & Privatisation

• What is the main focus of the educational policy discussed in the study material?

  Privatisation and globalisation in education
• What are the two types of privatisation in education mentioned?

  • Privatisation IN education: Importing private sector ideas to public schools.
  • Privatisation OF education: Transferring public assets to private companies.
• What does privatisation IN education involve?

  It involves importing ideas from the private sector to make public schools more business-like.
• What is meant by privatisation OF education?

  It refers to transferring public assets like schools to private companies for profit.
• What is a public-private partnership in education?

  It is when private companies provide money to design and build new schools.
• What is a criticism of public-private partnerships in education?

  They can drain public resources and lead to higher profits for companies.
• What does Chitty (2014) argue about public-private sector deals?


  They have created financial difficulties for parts of the education system.
• How does privatisation and globalisation affect the state's role in education?

  The state is losing control as the provider of educational services.
• What has been the focus of educational policy due to privatisation and globalisation?

  It has focused on standards and producing workers for a global market.
• What services do private companies provide in the context of inspection services in education?

  They sell inspection services, advice, and policies to schools.
• What is a criticism of private companies providing inspection services?

  Directors and head teachers may have insider knowledge to win contracts.
• What did OFSTED stop doing in 2014 regarding private contractors?

  They stopped using private contractors for inspections due to quality concerns.
• What is a potential danger of relying on private services for education?

  Global education systems may neglect local needs and culture.
• What is globalisation in the context of education?

  It is the process of the world becoming interconnected and barriers disappearing.
• How has globalisation influenced educational policies?

  It has shaped marketisation and privatisation policies through New Right politics.
• Who owns the exam board Edexcel?

  The US global private publishing company Pearson's.
• What role does the American firm ETS play in education?

  They manage SATS testing for pupils aged 11 and 14.
• What is the purpose of international comparison testing like PISA?

  To allow comparisons of educational standards between different countries.
• What are some criticisms of international assessments like PISA?

  Different tests and samples make results difficult to compare meaningfully.
• How can low rankings in international assessments affect educational policy?

  They can lead to reforms in the education system in response to declining rankings.
• What is a concern regarding the marking of UK GCSE exam answers?

  Some answers are marked in Australia and the USA, raising accuracy questions.
• What is a criticism of ETS regarding exam marking?

  They failed to deliver accurate marking or marks on time.
• What is a potential negative effect of international assessment comparisons?

  They can create 'moral panics' leading to hasty policy changes.
• How do universities and private schools recruit students globally?

  They develop branches in other countries to attract international students.
• What is a benefit of recruiting international students for universities?

  It helps financially strapped universities survive due to higher fees from overseas students.
• What is a criticism of the recruitment of international students?

  Students become commodities to be bought and sold for profit.
• What does 'cola-isation' refer to in the context of education?

  It refers to global companies penetrating schools through vending machines and sponsorship.
• What is a criticism of cola-isation in schools?

  Schools become a means for companies to create product endorsement and brand loyalty.
• What is the purpose of global educational league tables?

  To produce international comparisons of educational achievement.
• What is a consequence of low rankings in global educational league tables?

  They can result in changes in educational policy in response to poor performance.
• What is a limitation of comparing educational rankings across countries?

  Each country uses different tests, samples, and age groups, making comparisons meaningless.
• Privatisation IN Education


  Importing private sector ideas to public schools.
• Privatisation OF Education


  Transferring public assets to private companies.
• Standards


  Benchmarks or requirements set by governments or organizations to measure the quality and level of education
• Curricula


  Specific content and what is taught in a particular school or institution (e.g., subjects, courses, materials)
• Standards focus


  Measuring quality and level of education (e.g., English language proficiency, math literacy)
• Curricula focus


  Teaching specific content and subjects (e.g., physics, biology, chemistry)
• Misguided Policy Decisions


  Unrealistic expectations and hasty changes can lead to poorly designed policies, which may not address the root causes of the problem.
• Increased Stress and Pressure


  Increased pressure on students, teachers, and schools, as well as stressed and demotivated learners due to the perceived need to 'keep up' with other countries.
• Inadequate Consideration of Local Context


  Policies may not take into account the unique characteristics, needs, and strengths of a country's education system, resulting in inadequate or unrealistic measures.