coalition government policies

• Free schools


  All-ability state-funded independent schools. Designed to be run by teachers, parents, charities, faith groups, education experts or private companies.
• Reform of examination system


  Coursework was removed from GCSE,AS & A-Level examinations. Linear style exams introduced (end of course exams). AS became a free standing course.
• Progress 8


  Schools judged on pupils' performance across 8 subjects rather than the previous 5.
• English Baccalaurate (E-Bacc)


  Now measured on the league tables. Students who focus on the 'real subjects' such as English, Maths, the sciences, foreign languages, and humanities were awarded this additional new qualification.
• New style academies


  All state schools were encouraged to free themselves from LA control and the national curriculum. Poorly performing schools (either league tables or OFSTED) were forced into becoming one.
• Pupil Premium


  Extra money per head allocated to pupils from poorer homes.
• Academy status gives more freedom over curriculum and staffing decisions but also means less accountability to local authorities.
• The coalition introduced the pupil premium, which is additional funding given to schools with disadvantaged children.
• Details of policies - coalition

  • Cut funding to education (Scrapped EMA)
  • Forced academisation – failing schools had to become Academies
  • Free Schools – charities/ businesses/ groups of parents given more freedom to set up their own schools
  • Pupil Premium – schools received extra funding for SEN and Free School Meals pupils.
• Evaluations - coalition government policies

  • Standards have carried on improving
  • Academisation and Free schools are both ideological – no evidence they improve standards more than LEA schools
  • Free schools – advantage the middle classes/ duplicate resources
  • Pupil Premium  - money doesn't directly go towards pupils and pupils may be stigmatised