Equality

• 1988 education reform act - National Curriculum

  All schools had to teach the same core curriculum

  Evaluation- not suitable for all as suits the 'academic' pupil more
• 1965 comprehensivisation act

  Got rid of the 11+ exam made it so all students would get 'parity of esteem' within education

  Evaluation- comprehensives are large schools so lack individual attention
• Schools Admissions Code

  Forbids discrimination in admitting pupil on grounds of socio-economic backgrounds or ability

  Evaluation- Covert selection still takes place by both schools and parents. Post code lottery
• Pupil premium

  Additional funding for those students from a poor socio-economic background

  Evaluation- Kerr and West- too many other factors outside of school that impact achievement
• 3 types of selection

  -Selection by ability - entrance tests

  -By aptitude - Talents

  -By faith
• Arguments in favour of selection-

  -Allows high-flyers to benefit

  -Specialised and focused teaching can take place
• Arguments against selection

  -late developers don't benefit

  -reduced risk of labelling and therefore SFP
• Three aims of education policy

  -Economic efficiency- developing skills to improve the labour force

  -Raising educational standards- e.g. PISA

  -Creating equality of opportunity
• 4 aspects of educational equality (Gillborn and Youdell)

  1. Equality of access - every child should have the same opportunities
  2. Equality of circumstance- children should all start school with a similar socio-economic background so that they are all truly equal
  3. Equality of participation- in the processes that make up school life
  4. Equality of outcome- all have the same chances of achievement regardless of socio-economic background