Social policy

• What does educational policy refer to?

  Plans and strategies for education by government
• What are the main issues educational policy responds to?

  Equal opportunities, selection, control, marketisation
• When did the state start spending public money on education?

  After 1833
• What was the impact of industrialisation on education?

  Increased need for an educated workforce
• When was schooling made compulsory in Britain?

  In 1880
• What did the tripartite system introduced in 1944 entail?

  Selection of children into three types of schools
• What were the three types of schools in the tripartite system?

  Grammar, Secondary Modern, Technical Schools
• How did the tripartite system affect class inequality?

  It reproduced class inequality through school types
• What was the aim of the comprehensive school system introduced in 1965?

  To overcome the class divide of the tripartite system
• What did the comprehensive school system abolish?

  11+ exams and grammar-secondary modern divide
• How do functionalists view comprehensive schools?

  As promoting social integration and meritocratic selection
• What is the Marxist perspective on education's role?

  It serves capitalism by reproducing class inequality
• What is marketisation in education?

  Introducing market forces and competition in education
• Who introduced marketisation as a central theme in education policy?

  Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government
• What is parentocracy?

  Rule by parents in the education market
• How do league tables contribute to inequality?

  They create demand for schools with good results
• What is cream skimming in education?

  Good schools selecting high-achieving pupils
• What is silt-shifting?

  Good schools avoiding less able pupils
• How does the funding formula affect schools?

  Popular schools receive more funds and resources
• What did Gerwitz's study reveal about parental choice?

  M/C parents have more choice than W/C parents
• What are the three types of choosers identified by Gerwitz?

  Privileged-skilled, Disconnected-local, Semi-skilled choosers
• What does Ball argue about parentocracy?

  It is a myth that disguises real inequalities
• What policies did New Labour introduce to reduce inequality?

  Education Action Zones, Aim Higher, EMAs
• What is the New Labour paradox according to Benn?

  Policies aimed at reducing inequality conflicted with tuition fees
• What was the aim of the Coalition government's education policy?

  Encourage excellence, competition, and innovation
• What are academies in the context of education?

  Schools that operate independently of local authority control
• What are free schools?

  Schools set up and run by parents and teachers
• What does Ball mean by fragmented centralisation?

  Increased diversity in school provision and central control
• How do Coalition policies aim to reduce inequality?

  Through free school meals and Pupil Premium
• What is the impact of privatisation on education?

  Transfer of public assets to private companies
• What is the 'cola-isation' of schools?

  Private sector influence through branding and sponsorship
• How is education becoming a commodity?

  Education is increasingly provided by private companies
• What policies have been implemented regarding gender in education?

  GIST and efforts to reduce gender differences
• What was the focus of assimilation policies for EMGs?

  Helping EMGs assimilate into mainstream culture
• What is the aim of multicultural education?

  To value all cultures and raise self-esteem
• What does social inclusion focus on for EMGs?

  Promoting racial equality and language support
• What does Gillborn argue about educational policies?

  They continue to disadvantage minority ethnic groups
• What is educational policy?

  Plans and strategies for education introduced by government
• What are the main issues that most educational policy responds to?

  Equal opportunities, selection and choice, control of education, marketisation and privatisation
• When did the state first start spending public money on education in Britain?

  Before 1833, the state spent no public money on education