evaluation

• tripartite system strengths 


  -intended to be fair system based on meritocracy > pupils earn place at grammar schools by working hard
• tripartite system weaknesses


  -reproduced class inequality in education > social classes channelled into different schools with unequal opportunities

  > girls had to obtain higher pass mark than boys - reproducing gender inequality

  -legitimated class inequality > idea that ability is inborn
• comprehensive system strengths 


  -aimed to make education more meritocratic

  -overcome class divide of tripartite system
• comprehensive system weaknesses 


  -government gave local education authorities the choice over whether to go 'comprehensive' > not all did

  -hence why grammar & secondary moderns still exist

  -defeats point
• functionalist view on comprehensives

  -social integration > all students together

  -meritocratic > not selected at early age, can develop through school

  -status achieved not ascribed

  -streaming meant little mixing of social classes
• marxist views on comprehensives

  -not meritocratic

  -reproduce class inequality > labelling & streaming

  -myth of meritocracy > appear to offer equal opportunities, so failure blamed on individual