Educational policies

• What legislation addressed parental choice in schools in 1988?

  1988 Education Act
• What was the purpose of the 1988 Education Act?

  To allow parents to choose schools for their children
• How did the 1988 Education Act change parental involvement in education?

  Parents could 'shop' for the best school
• What analogy is used to describe how parents choose schools?

  Like consumers shopping for jeans
• Why might parents prefer to shop around for schools?

  There are differences in student achievement among schools
• What are market signals in the context of school choice?

  Price, reputation, quality, reliability
• What role did Ofsted play after the 1988 Education Act?

  To inspect schools for quality and reliability
• How could parents use Ofsted reports and exam data?

  To compare schools and make informed choices
• What is the purpose of league tables in education?

  To rank schools based on performance
• How did the government expect competition among schools to affect education?

  It would improve results and raise standards
• What term describes the process of parents choosing schools based on performance data?

  Marketisation of the education system
• How did middle-class parents benefit from the marketisation of education?

  They could understand reports and move to good areas
• What is meant by the term 'post-code lottery' in education?

  Access to good schools varies by location
• How does the income level of parents influence school choice?

  Higher incomes allow moving to better catchment areas
• Who introduced neo-liberal economics in 1979?

  1. Thatcher
• What is another term for neo-liberal economics?

  New-Right policies
• What were the key components of Conservative education policy from 1979 to 1997?

  • Introduction of New Vocationalism (1986)
  • 1988 Education Reform Act
  • Competition between schools
  • Parents as 'consumers' of education
• What did the 1988 Education Reform Act introduce?

  Competition between schools
• How do New Right thinkers view social policies?

  They believe policies are effective with free market principles
• What is the term for the process of applying free market principles to education?

  Marketization of education
• What does neo-liberalism emphasize regarding individual choice?

  It emphasizes the importance of giving individuals choice
• How does the free market affect individuals in terms of services?

  It turns individuals into consumers of services
• What does privatisation mean in the context of education?

  The state is less involved in education services
• How does privatisation affect parents in education?

  It turns parents into consumers of education
• How can parents 'shop around' for schools?

  By choosing schools for their children
• What is the term for the process initiated by the 1988 Education Reform Act?

  Parentocracy
• What are the criticisms of parentocracy according to Ball et al (1996)?

  • Encourages parents to become consumers of education
  • Contributes to social-class inequalities
  • Empowers middle-class parents disproportionately
• What does parentocracy assume about parents' choices in education?

  All parents have free choice of school
• How does parent choice contribute to social-class inequalities?

  It empowers middle-class parents more