Social Policies

• Educational Maintenance Allowance was abolished in 2011 by the Coalition government - gave financial support to poorer students staying on in education after 16
• The 1944 Education Act --> the tripartite system (divided secondary education into three types of schools: grammar schools, secondary moderns, and technical schools.)

  This policy aimed to provide different pathways for students based on their abilities, but it also led to educational inequalities
• Comprehensive schools were introduced (1960s & 1970s) : aim of providing a more equal and inclusive education system. Comprehensive education policies aimed to eliminate the divisions created by the tripartite system and provide all students with access to a broad and balanced curriculum.
• Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA): EMA was a financial incentive scheme introduced in 2004 to encourage students from low-income backgrounds to stay in education post-16.
• Student Loans and Tuition Fees: Changes to higher education funding e.g. the introduction of tuition fees and the expansion of student loans, have allowed for access to higher education and student debt levels.

  However, can act as a deterrent from pursuing higher education altogether (WC pupils)
• Education Action Zones (EAZs) introduced in England in the late 1990s under the Labour government led by Prime Minister Tony Blair.

  The aim of Education Action Zones was to address underperformance in schools and improve educational outcomes, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
• The 2010 Academies Act in the UK facilitated the conversion of schools to academy status, granting them greater autonomy over curriculum, staffing, and finances, with the aim of driving improvement and raising educational standards
• The Catch Up Premium (2021) is a social policy initiative introduced in England to support schools in helping pupils catch up on missed learning following disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • an additional £1 billion in funding for schools was provided to help support students catch up with lessons they had missed
• 2022-23 ‘Catch up Premium’ was replaced by the NEP (National Tutoring Programme) which awards schools an additional £163 per student eligible for the pupil premium to give them targeted support to improve their grades.
• Education Reform Act (1988)

  introduction of the National Curriculum, standardised the information that was taught and learnt by all students therefore ensuring that girls were no longer taught different subjects that may have limited their ability to progress in the education system.
• Education Reform Act (1988)

  The Act introduced a system of Key Stages, dividing education into specific age ranges. It also introduced statutory assessments, including standardized tests (SATs), at the end of each Key Stage to measure student attainment and progress.
• Education Reform Act (1988)

  The Act established the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), an independent government agency responsible for inspecting schools and evaluating their performance.
• Education Reform Act (1988)

  The Act promoted parental choice and competition in education by allowing schools to set their own admissions criteria and compete for students. This market-oriented approach aimed to drive improvement by incentivizing schools to attract students and respond to parental preferences.
• GIST & WISE

  initiatives aimed at promoting gender diversity and inclusion in STEM fields. These campaigns typically involve targeted interventions and outreach efforts to encourage girls and women to pursue education and careers in STEM, addressing gender stereotypes, biases, and barriers along the way e.g. through role models
• Reading Champions uses male role models to encourage boys to read
• Playing for Success is a social policy initiative that utilises the appeal of sports to improve educational attainment among children. Through engaging sports-themed learning environments and mentoring programs, it aims to boost literacy, numeracy, and confidence levels, particularly among disadvantaged and disengaged students,
•  Micheal Gove 2010

  introducing a more traditional and knowledge-based approach with a focus on core subjects such as English, mathematics, and science. e.g.  Shakespeare and those written by non white authors were removed --> increasing alienation
• Free school meal programme (1944)

  provide nutritious meals to students from low-income families, aiming to alleviate hunger and improve academic performance.
• UCAS (2012)

  when tuition fees rose in 2012 --> number of UK applicants fell by 8.6%
• Gifted & Talented (2005)

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