1.6 Comprehensive system

• What do Marxists say the "myth of meritocracy" justifies in the comprehensive school system?

  Class inequality by making unequal achievements seem fair
• What are the two functionalist ideas of the comprehensive school system?

  Promotes social integration by bringing children of different social classes together and meritocratic as it gives pupils longer time to develop and show ability compared to the tripartite system
• What did Ford find in relation to the functionalist perspective of comprehensive schools?


  Little integration between the classes
• What is the issue with the local authorities decision in the comprehensive system?

  Local authorities decision to submit for comprehensive system in the area, therefore conservative areas were less likely to submit and stayed with grammar school systems
• What is the problem with geographical issues in the comprehensive system?

  Admission were based on where you lived, therefore if you live in a middle class area most students would attend the same school.
• What is the problem with labelling in the comprehensive system?

  Teachers labelled students by ability Working class labelled negatively - restriction of opportunity
• What is the issue with streaming in the comprehensive system?

  The schools used streaming to separate students by ability. Middle class students generally placed in top sets. Streaming is a self fulfilling prophecy
• What are the four problems with the comprehensive system?

  Streaming, labelling, geographical issues and local authorities decision
• What are the three aims of comprehensive schools?

  Reduce inequality, abolish the 11+ and promote meritocracy
• What is the comprehensive system?

  Children of all abilities from a particular area are educated in one school.
• What did Harold Wilson say about the tripartite system?

  Not working. All local authorities must submit plans to bring back comprehensive schools. These will allow for a broad curriculum and more sporting + recreational activities.
• Who was Harold Wilson?

  Labour PM
• What year did Harold Wilson say the tripartite system of education was not working?

  1965