Topic 6 - Educational Policy

• Educational policy has had a profound impact on society. There has been a shift in policy from the 1940’s where the tripartite system existed, legitimising inequality in education, to the new system of comprehensive schooling introduced in 1965. Although the New Labour policies sought to reduce inequality, the conservative policies have reintroduced a system of inequality by encouraging privatisation and marketisation.
• Tripartite System


  Introduced in 1944, had two main types of secondary school (grammar and secondary modern) with selection by the 11+ exam. Most middle-class pupils attended the grammar school, whereas most working-class pupils attended the secondary modern.
• Comprehensive System


  Introduced in 1965, abolished the 11+ and all pupils attended the same local comprehensive school.
• Marketisation Policies


  • League tables - schools with good results encourage the best (usually middle-class pupils). Less successful schools end up with less-able pupils.
  • The funding formula - schools are funded on how many pupils they recruit, so good schools get more money, and can improve staffing/resources.
• New Labour policies 1997 - 2010 to reduce inequality in education


  • Education Action Zones
  • Aim Higher programmes
  • Education Maintenance Allowance for poorer 16-18-year-olds
  • Increased funding for state education
• Conservative policies post 2010


  Reflect neo-liberal thinking about reducing the role of the state, and therefore moving away from the comprehensive system
• Conservative policies post 2010


  • Academies - all schools encouraged to become academies, some funded by privately-owned chains, some funded by central government
  • Free schools - state-funded but set up and run by parents, teachers, religious groups or businesses
  • Spending cuts - there have been cuts in government spending on education (Eg. in areas such as Sure Start, EMA, school building)
  • Grammar schools - parliament have discussed the reintroduction of grammar schools