AQA Sociology –
Education (Paper 1) 2026 |
Study Guide, Practice
Questions, Answers,
Rationales & Exam Review
Updated Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
, Functionalist Approach Take a consensus view. Education performs 3 main functions - socialisation into a
shared culture, teaching specialist work skills, selecting people for work roles.
Education is organised on meritocratic principles.
New Right Approach Take a conservative view. Education should be based on market principles.
Marxist Approach Take a class conflict view. Education's role is to serve capitalism. It's an ideal state
apparatus that reproduces and legitimises inequality through correspondence
principle and myth of meritocracy.
Feminist Approach Take a patriarchal view. Education still benefits the male gender more.
Post-Modernist Approach Economy has become post-fordist. Education is becoming more diverse and
flexible.
Cultural Capital The knowledge middle class parents have that allows them to navigate the
education system to best benefit their children.
Centre for Longitudinal studies (2007) By the age of 3, children from disadvantaged backgrounds are already up to one
year behind those with more privileged backgrounds. Gap widens with age.
Bernstein (1975) Speech codes. Restricted code used by the working class. Elaborated code used by
middle class.
Restricted Code Primarily working class. Limited vocab. Based on short, unfinished, grammatically
simple sentences. Speech is predictable. May only use single word or gestures.
Descriptive not analytic. Speaker assumes listener shares same experiences.
Elaborated Code Primarily middle class. Wide vocab, grammatically complex sentences. Varied
speech communicating abstract ideas. Speaker makes no assumptions so spell out
meanings explicitly.
Douglas (1964) Working class parents place less value on education. Less ambition for children,
less encouragement, rarely/not visiting schools. As a result, WC children have less
motivation and lower achievement.
Feinstein (2008) Parents education affects children's achievement. Educated MC parents have a
more disciplined, high expectancy parenting style, are more aware of what is
needed for progress, and can use income to promote success (e.g. private tutoring).
Uneducated WC parents have harsh, inconsistent parenting style, less
understanding of what is needed for progress, and little/no disposable income to
promote success.
Education (Paper 1) 2026 |
Study Guide, Practice
Questions, Answers,
Rationales & Exam Review
Updated Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
, Functionalist Approach Take a consensus view. Education performs 3 main functions - socialisation into a
shared culture, teaching specialist work skills, selecting people for work roles.
Education is organised on meritocratic principles.
New Right Approach Take a conservative view. Education should be based on market principles.
Marxist Approach Take a class conflict view. Education's role is to serve capitalism. It's an ideal state
apparatus that reproduces and legitimises inequality through correspondence
principle and myth of meritocracy.
Feminist Approach Take a patriarchal view. Education still benefits the male gender more.
Post-Modernist Approach Economy has become post-fordist. Education is becoming more diverse and
flexible.
Cultural Capital The knowledge middle class parents have that allows them to navigate the
education system to best benefit their children.
Centre for Longitudinal studies (2007) By the age of 3, children from disadvantaged backgrounds are already up to one
year behind those with more privileged backgrounds. Gap widens with age.
Bernstein (1975) Speech codes. Restricted code used by the working class. Elaborated code used by
middle class.
Restricted Code Primarily working class. Limited vocab. Based on short, unfinished, grammatically
simple sentences. Speech is predictable. May only use single word or gestures.
Descriptive not analytic. Speaker assumes listener shares same experiences.
Elaborated Code Primarily middle class. Wide vocab, grammatically complex sentences. Varied
speech communicating abstract ideas. Speaker makes no assumptions so spell out
meanings explicitly.
Douglas (1964) Working class parents place less value on education. Less ambition for children,
less encouragement, rarely/not visiting schools. As a result, WC children have less
motivation and lower achievement.
Feinstein (2008) Parents education affects children's achievement. Educated MC parents have a
more disciplined, high expectancy parenting style, are more aware of what is
needed for progress, and can use income to promote success (e.g. private tutoring).
Uneducated WC parents have harsh, inconsistent parenting style, less
understanding of what is needed for progress, and little/no disposable income to
promote success.
