Education Policy

• Educational policies are plans and strategies introduced to by government, which are directly aimed at education and schools.
• Examples of policies:

  • The Education Act (1944)
  • The Education Reform Act (1988)
  • Free school meals.
  • EMA.
  • The National Curriculum.
  • School-leaving age.
  • Educational Action Zones.
  • Sure Start.
• The aims of educational policy are:

  • To raise and maintain educational standards.
  • To create and maintain equality.
  • To create and maintain economic efficiency.
• Educational policies also exist as a response to the following issues:

  • Ensuring equality of opportunity.
  • To what extent do government policies positively or negatively affect equal opportunities for pupils?
  • Ensuring selection and choice.
  • What types of schools should exist, and should schools select their pupils or should parents select the schools?
  • The control of Education.
  • Who should oversee and control schools and dictate what they teach? Who should have the most influence over schools?
  • Marketisation and privatisation.
  • Should schools operate like businesses within an 'education market'?