A level sociology (AQA): educational policy and inequality
POLICIES BEFORE 1988
industrialisation needed more of an educated workforce, and became involved with education from the late 19th century.
from 1944 education began to be influenced by the idea of meritocracy (individuals achieving their status through own efforts and abilities)
the 1944 Education Act brought in the tripartite system which allocated children into three different types of schools based on abilities, which were identified through the 11+ exam.
the tripartite system didn't promote meritocracy but reproduced class inequality by placing two social classes in schools with unequal opportunities.
this also reproduced gender inequality because girls were required to gain higher marks than boys in the exam to obtain a grammar school place.
it also legitimises inequality through the ideology that ability is inborn.
from 1965, the comprehensive system was introduced.
aimed to overcome class divide and make education more meritocratic, and abolished the 11+ exams, along with secondary moderns and grammar schools.
however, local schools were given the choice to go comprehensive and not all did. (some secondary-grammar schools still exist today).
Functionalists say that comprehensives promote social integration by bringing different social classes together.
but, sociologist Ford found little social mixing between working class and middle class pupils 'cause of streaming.
they also argue that it's more meritocratic than the tripartite system brcause pupils have a longer time to develop and show their abilities.
Marxists argue that comprehensives aren't meritocratic because they reproduce class inequality through streaming and labelling.
it utilises the 'myth of meritocracy' which legitimates class inequality by making unequal achievement seem fair.
MARKETISATION
refers to the policy of introducing market forces of supply and demand into areas run by the state e.g. education.
the 1988 Education Reform Act began marketisation of education by encouraging competition between schools and parental choice.
policies to promote marketisation include: (1) publication of league tables of Ofsted inspection reports, ranking schools. (2) business sponsorship, (3) open enrolment, (4) specialist schools, (5) formula funding, (6) schools having to compete to attract pupils, (7) tuition fees for higher education, and (8) allowing parents and others to set up free schools.
David describes marketised education as a 'parentocracy' where power shifts from the producers to the consumers. Supporters claim this encourages diversity and choice.
Critics argue marketisation has created more inequalities - Ball and Whitty note that policies, such as league tables, create inequalities between schools.
LEAGUE TABLES - parents are more attracted to schools with good league tables, making good schools able to be more selective and avoid pupils who get worse results. those with poor league tables can't, putting reproducing class inequalities.
the funding formula is based in how many pupils schools attract