Marketisation

• Globalisation has caused increased marketisation. Marketisation is...

  How schools are run like businesses, introducing market forces like choice, diversity of product and competition.
• PISA Rankings:

  They rate the effectiveness of education internationally for the core subjects (science, maths and reading)

  It ranks the education system against other countries on a global scale.
• Analysis of PISA rankings:

  😊: This may improve standards by raising competition (marketisation) therefore raising spending on core subjects. Improved teacher training and maths mastery, leading to a better qualified workforce.

  😒: It ignores other subjects. The same methods wouldn't work in the context of varying cultures.
• Free schools:

  Free schools have been copied from Finland and Sweden, that consistently have high PISA rankings.

  • They're set up by parents, teachers, faith organisations, charities, etc.
  • They help marketize education by increasing diversity of school types, increasing choice that consumers have, increasing competition.
  • Introduced by the 2010 government.
• Analysis to Introduction of free schools:

  Strength: Helped to marketize education in the UK, making schools responsive to the needs of their consumers in the same way that fee paying schools are, raising standards (Which Chubb and Moe stated they needed)

  Weakness: Middle class families have the educational and cultural capital to apply for these, or create these. Working class families lack this capital so don't reap the benefits from these schools.
• Introduction of Academies:

  Academies are schools that receive money from the government but control their budget, staffing, building, etc.

  Globalisation means that schemes from elsewhere can be 'copied' and implemented in the UK. Academies were inspired by the American Charter School system. They diversify school types and marketize education by filling 'gaps' in the education market, increasing consumer choice.
• Analysis to the introduction of Academies:

  Strength: Chubb and Moe (New Right theorists) agree academies helped to marketize education, therefore raising standards.

  Weakness: Marxists argue academies are selective when enrolling students, increasing class inequality. They enrol more middle class students than working class, maintaining class inequality.