Functionalist View of Education

• Functionalist View

  The education system is an agency of socialisation which promotes the value consensus of society. This maintains social harmony and promotes social cohesion.
• Functionalist View

  Functionalists say that the main role of the education system is to prepare young people for the adult world of work.
• Functions of Education

  • Passing on the culture and social norms and building solidarity through the hidden curriculum
  • Providing a bridge between childhood and adulthood
  • Developing human capital
  • Allocating roles in a meritocratic society
• Informal Curriculum

  Inequality is necessary and children need to be allocated into their 'places' in society for society to function in harmony
• Secondary Agent of Socialisation

  Teaches children the norms and values of the working world, such as time management, respect for authority, the value of achievement which can be measured and graded.
• Secondary Agent of Socialisation

   Children are taught the value consensus and they gain a collective identity.
• The Curriculum

  Children learn their 'place' through streaming and setting, they are allocated into the most suitable role based on their ability and skills.
• The Curriculum

  The curriculum is designed to reinforce division of labour by teaching the suitable skills for the child's ability; academic skills lead to GCSE and A-level success for university and BTECs for success in the workplace.