Education Reform Act 1988 - conservatives

• What were the aims of their act?


  • To introduce free market principles/ more competition into the education system 
  •      To introduce greater parental choice 
  •      Started the privatisation of education 
  •      Raising standards 
• What did this policy introduce?

  League tables, The national Curriculum, OFSTED and Formula Funding
• What did League tables do?

  League tables were introduced. Schools were ranked based on exam performance in SATS, GCSEs and A levels. Helps parents decide which schools are best in their local area. The new right thought that league tables would raise standards through increased competition 
• What did they introduction of the national curriculum lead too?

  All schools were to teach the same subject content from the age of 7-16. All schools were required to teach the core subjects - english, maths and science. This would make it easier for parents to decide which school to send their child too due to having the same curriculum- Parentocracy
• What is OFSTED?

  It is Government organisation that inspects schools. They publish reports and underachieving schools will be shut if they fail to improve. This aims to raise standards in schools.
• What is formula funding?

  School funding is now based on how many pupils are enrolled at the school
• What is meant by open enrolment and selection and are schools allowed to choice certain students?

  Parents are allowed to select multiple schools to send their child to so they can select one as their first choice. However some schools became over subscribed so we’re allowed to select students based on certain criteria.
• What did this act allow faith schools and specialist schools to do?

  It allowed faith schools to select students based of religion and specialist schools on the basis of the pupils aptitude for the specialist subject.