Education

• Stages of education - Nursery

  Age 2-4
• Stages of education - Primary

  Age 4-11
• Stages of education - Secondary

  Age 11-16
• Stages of education - Further/higher education

  Age 16-18
• Stages of education - University

  Age 18+
• Early years education


  Nurseries

  Local authority

  Provides care and learning experiences
• Primary education


  Infant and juniors

  Co-educated (both genders)

  Mostly state school
• Secondary education


  11-16

  Some provide sixth forms

  Can be faith schools
• Further education


  Starts at 16

  Apprenticeships

  A-levels
• Comprehensive/state school


  Gives the same type of education to all students

  Attended by anyone

  State funded

  Good mix of people

  Doesn't offer much support
• Academy


  School managed by businesses/charity - has more control

  Attended by anyone

  Funded by the government
• Independent/Private school


  Set their own curriculum and admission policies

  Attended by students whose parents have paid

  Smaller classes

  Better facilities
• Free school


  Brand new schools set up when there's parental demand

  Attended by anyone

  Funded by the government
• Grammar school


  Select pupils based on academic ability

  They have to pass the 11+ to get in

  Funded by the government

  Everyone has the same ability
• Special school


  Been assessed and given a statement of SEN

  Attended by pupils with SEN needs

  Some funded by the local education authority, some are independent

  Pupils can feel more included or more isolated
• Specialist school


  Focus on one subject

  Attended by people interested in that specialism

  Funded by the government

  Less money is spent on the non-specialism subject
• National curriculum


  The subject content that must be taught as decided by the government
• Public exams


  Assessments taken at different points such as SATs, GCSEs, A-levels
• Compulsory schooling


  Legal requirement to be in school between 5-18
• The Tripartite System 


  Dividing children between schools based on their academic abilities
• The Tripartite System - Types of school

  Secondary technical - practical education - 5%

  Secondary modern - general education - 75%

  Grammar school - academic education - 20%
• The Tripartite System - Disadvantages

  Labels students as failures and causes a self-fulfilling prophecy

  The test to get in isn't fair - it advantages middle class students who will practice the test
• The Tripartite System - Advantages


  Education is tailored to the ability of the student

  Gives all students the chance to go to the top school (not just those who can pay)
• Private school - Advantages

  Smaller class sizes - more attention from the teacher

  Better facilities due to better funding

  Prepares you for the top jobs in society
• Private school - Disadvantages

  Increase inequalities in society with the private education system (rich stay rich)

  Socially divisive as it splits society in two. State schools are socially mixed whereas private schools are seen as elitist

  Prevents investment in state education
• Homeschooling


  When parents take full responsibility for the education of their child and teach children at home
• Homeschooling - Advantages


  More suitable for those with mental health conditions or those who don't live in one area for long
• Homeschooling - Disadvantages


  Standard of education can impact social development
• Deschooling


  The idea of abolishing school in its current form and be free to choose where learning takes place

  Some people say the current system prevents creativity
• Why might parents choose alternative schooling?

  Suit the needs of their children

  If their children have mental health issues

  Choose where learning takes place

  No set curriculum

  No exams
• Marketisation of education

  Refers to the changes that have made education more business like and based on competition and consumer choice
• Marketisation of education - Examples

  League tables

  Ofsted reports

  Open evenings
• Formal curriculum


  The subjects and topics that are directly taught in school
• Hidden curriculum


  The way cultural values and attitudes are transmitted in school
• Functionalism


  Society is made up of parts

  Each part has a role to play in keeping society functioning

  Education has a role in society
• Function of education (according to functionalists) - Role allocation


  Selects individuals for their future roles in society

  School coursework and exams match individuals with the jobs that suit them

  Education allocates people to the most appropriate jobs

  The most talented get the most important jobs for society
• Function of education (according to functionalists) - Preparation for employment


  Education provides specialist skills

  Prepares children for work and gives them qualities to be good workers

  Important because individuals need to have different skills for society to function effectively
• Function of education (according to functionalists) - Social cohesion


  Promoting a sense of unity and togetherness in society

  Learning culture, norms and values through subjects such as history, PSHE and RE

  This unites people together and helps give us social cohesion as we feel part of something bigger
• Function of education (according to functionalists) - Bridge to society


  Helping individuals transition from their life at home to a wider society

  For Durkheim, school is society in miniature and by socialising students into the norms and values rather than the family, it prepares you for later life
• Parsons' view on Bridge to Society

  The family and society work in different ways and school helps students to adapt so they can cope in wider society