Policies

• How much does the UK government spend on education annually?

  Approximately £90 billion
• What was the aim of educational policies since 1870?

  To widen participation and achieve equality
• What significant educational policy was introduced in 1870?

  • Forster's Education Act
  • Introduced mass elementary education
• What change occurred in education in 1880?

  • Education became compulsory
  • Education became free
• What was the compulsory education age established in 1918?

  Until 14 years of age
• What did the Butler Education Act of 1944 introduce?

  The tripartite system of secondary schools
• What year did the Labour government replace the tripartite system?

  1965
• What were Educational Priority Areas (EPAs) established for in 1967?

  To tackle educational inequalities
• What was the purpose of compensatory education policies?

  To address socio-economic educational inequalities
• What was the main criticism of the 11+ IQ test?

  It was not culture-fair
• What were the three types of schools in the tripartite system?

  • Grammar schools for academic students
  • Technical schools for scientific or creative students
  • Secondary moderns for non-academic students
• Why did the tripartite system fail?

  Few technical schools were built
• Who dominated grammar schools in the tripartite system?

  Middle-class students
• What was the perception of secondary modern schools?

  They were seen as inferior to grammar schools
• What did sociologists like Bernstein argue about schools?

  Schools cannot compensate for society
• What was the social democratic idea behind educational policy from 1944 to 1978?

  • Improve equality of opportunity
  • Provide equal chances for all children
• What was the school leaving age increased to in 1972?

  16 years
• What was the aim of the tripartite system introduced by the Butler Education Act?

  To allocate students based on ability
• What was the impact of socio-economic status on the 11+ test results?

  It favored students with economic capital
• What did Douglas (1964) believe about poorer parents?

  They were less likely to engage in education
• What are catchment areas in housing?

  Geographical zones determining school admissions
• Why are urban areas rarely socially mixed?

  People live alongside similar social backgrounds
• What is a consequence of a deprived inner-city catchment?

  Predominantly working-class school intake
• How do poor families affect educational support?

  They may struggle to support their children
• What can happen to schools in deprived areas?

  They may become 'failing' schools
• How does selection by mortgage impact working-class parents?

  It prices them out of the housing market
• What does Gewirtz (1995) argue about middle-class parents?

  They use capital to access top schools
• What opportunity do working-class children have in comprehensive schools?

  To pursue the same qualifications as middle-class children
• What is a benefit of comprehensive schools for less bright students?

  They perform better due to varied courses
• How do exam results of top comprehensives compare?

  They compare well with the private sector
• What do Hargreaves (1967) and Ball (1981) argue about streaming?

  It is based on social class, not ability
• What did some local authorities continue after the comprehensive system?

  The grammar school system
• How do suburban comprehensive schools perform compared to inner-city schools?

  They achieve better exam results
• What is the impact of 'selection by mortgage' on educational equality?

  • Prices out working-class families
  • Limits access to good schools
  • Reinforces social class divisions
• What shift occurred in education policy after 1979?

  From socialist to New Right emphasis
• What did the 1988 Education Reform Act encourage?

  Marketisation of education
• What is open enrolment?

  Allowing schools to expand their capacity
• How did formula funding change school financing?

  Based funding on student numbers
• What does 'parentocracy' refer to?

  Parental power in school choice
• What was the main aim of encouraging competition between schools?

  To improve educational standards