Topic 6: Sociology of Education
Educational Policy and Inequality - Part 1
1. Education policy
a) Explain what is meant by 'educational policy'
Refers to the plans and strategies for education introduced by the government, for example
through Acts of Parliament, together with instructions and recommendations to schools and
local authorities.
b) Give examples of educational policies
- Pupil premium
- Section 28
- National Tutoring Programme
- Academisation of schools
- National Curriculum (1988)
- Butler Education Act (1944) Tripartite system
c) Most educational policy is a response to four key issues - outline these issues.
3. Education policy in Britain - history
a) Describe what educational provision was like in Britain during the late C18 and early
C19.
- Equal opportunities: how far do gov policies help achieve equal opportunities for all
pupils.
- Selection and Choice: what types of schools should we have? Should schools/
parents be able to select pupils/schools.
- Control of Education: Who should control schools and what they teach? How much
influence should central gov, local authorities, businesses, teachers and pupils have?
- Marketisation and Privatisation: should state schools operate like businesses within
an ‘education market’.
b) Outline some of the key changes introduced under the Education Act 1870
Industrialisation created the need for a more educated workforce, so the state became more
involved in education. The Forster’s Act (Education Act 1870) made schooling compulsory
from age 5 to 10 in 1880.
c) Explain how educational provision was linked to social class.
In the 1800's, children’s type of education they received was dependent on their class.
Schooling did little to change pupils’ ascribed status (the position they were born into). MC
pupils given an academic curriculum to prepare them for careers in the professions or office
work whereas WC given schooling to equip them with basic numeracy and literacy skills
needed for routine factory work and to instil obedience into them.
4. The Education Act 1944 - the tripartite system
a) Outline the key changes introduced under the Education Act 1944
The tripartite system was established by the 1944 Education Act which created three types
of state-funded secondary schools. The results of the 11+ test would determine which school
the pupil attended. Academic pupils would attend grammar schools (20% attended),
technical pupils would attend technical schools (5% attended) and practical pupils would
attend secondary modern schools (75% attended). In reality very few technical schools were
built and in most areas of the country there was really a two-tier system.
Grammar schools:
- 160 grammar schools in England
Educational Policy and Inequality - Part 1
1. Education policy
a) Explain what is meant by 'educational policy'
Refers to the plans and strategies for education introduced by the government, for example
through Acts of Parliament, together with instructions and recommendations to schools and
local authorities.
b) Give examples of educational policies
- Pupil premium
- Section 28
- National Tutoring Programme
- Academisation of schools
- National Curriculum (1988)
- Butler Education Act (1944) Tripartite system
c) Most educational policy is a response to four key issues - outline these issues.
3. Education policy in Britain - history
a) Describe what educational provision was like in Britain during the late C18 and early
C19.
- Equal opportunities: how far do gov policies help achieve equal opportunities for all
pupils.
- Selection and Choice: what types of schools should we have? Should schools/
parents be able to select pupils/schools.
- Control of Education: Who should control schools and what they teach? How much
influence should central gov, local authorities, businesses, teachers and pupils have?
- Marketisation and Privatisation: should state schools operate like businesses within
an ‘education market’.
b) Outline some of the key changes introduced under the Education Act 1870
Industrialisation created the need for a more educated workforce, so the state became more
involved in education. The Forster’s Act (Education Act 1870) made schooling compulsory
from age 5 to 10 in 1880.
c) Explain how educational provision was linked to social class.
In the 1800's, children’s type of education they received was dependent on their class.
Schooling did little to change pupils’ ascribed status (the position they were born into). MC
pupils given an academic curriculum to prepare them for careers in the professions or office
work whereas WC given schooling to equip them with basic numeracy and literacy skills
needed for routine factory work and to instil obedience into them.
4. The Education Act 1944 - the tripartite system
a) Outline the key changes introduced under the Education Act 1944
The tripartite system was established by the 1944 Education Act which created three types
of state-funded secondary schools. The results of the 11+ test would determine which school
the pupil attended. Academic pupils would attend grammar schools (20% attended),
technical pupils would attend technical schools (5% attended) and practical pupils would
attend secondary modern schools (75% attended). In reality very few technical schools were
built and in most areas of the country there was really a two-tier system.
Grammar schools:
- 160 grammar schools in England
