1. Outline two cultural factors that may affect ethnic differences in
educational achievement. [4 marks]
Language- for some pupils English may be a second language and so they may have difficulty
in understanding class work. Basil Bernstein identifies differences between working-class
and middle-class language that influence achievement. He distinguishes between two types
of speech code the restricted code and elaborated code.
Parental attitudes to education - Indian and Chinese parents are more likely to be pro-
school and encourage their children to be successful in education (+1 m
Pupil subcultures - black pupils are more likely to be subjected to anti-educational peer
group pressure, leading to them rejecting school
Ethnocentric curriculum - the school curriculum reflects the dominant culture and this
benefits White British students
2. Outline three ways in which factors within schools may shape gender
differences in subject choice. [6 marks]
Peer group pressure - leads to girls and boys choosing subjects which reflect stereotypical
gender identities
Career advice - for example, girls are more likely to choose childcare courses, because
childcare jobs are seen as female
Subject counselling - teachers may channel boys and girls into different subject choices in
relation to their own gender stereotypes
Learning resources may include gender stereotypes - for example, science may be
represented as a mainly male activity
Gender of teachers - for example, males may pick science as a subject because the teachers
are more likely to be men
3. Evaluate sociological explanations of the role of education in
transmitting ideas and values. [30 marks]
Functionalists
Durkheim: social solidarity and specialist skills: Durkheim identified two main functions of
education: creating social solidarity and teaching specialist skills. Durkheim argues that
society needs a sense of solidarity. Without it, social life and cooperation would be
impossible because each individual would pursue their own selfish desires.
o Evaluation: . Sociologists have criticised Durkheim’s ideas by pointing out that the
education system does not teach specialised skills adequately. For example, the
Wolf review of vocational education (2011) claims that high quality apprenticeships
are rare and up to a third of 16-19 year olds are on courses that do not lead to
higher education or good jobs.
Parsons: meritocracy:
4. Evaluate the claim that marketisation and privatisation policies have
increased educational inequality. [ 30 marks) BCENCP
1944 Butler Act: brought in the Tripartite System which was based on the principles of
meritocracy. This involved children being selected and allocated to one of 3 different types
of secondary school, supposedly according to their aptitude and abilities. This was based on
a test called the 11+ exam.
educational achievement. [4 marks]
Language- for some pupils English may be a second language and so they may have difficulty
in understanding class work. Basil Bernstein identifies differences between working-class
and middle-class language that influence achievement. He distinguishes between two types
of speech code the restricted code and elaborated code.
Parental attitudes to education - Indian and Chinese parents are more likely to be pro-
school and encourage their children to be successful in education (+1 m
Pupil subcultures - black pupils are more likely to be subjected to anti-educational peer
group pressure, leading to them rejecting school
Ethnocentric curriculum - the school curriculum reflects the dominant culture and this
benefits White British students
2. Outline three ways in which factors within schools may shape gender
differences in subject choice. [6 marks]
Peer group pressure - leads to girls and boys choosing subjects which reflect stereotypical
gender identities
Career advice - for example, girls are more likely to choose childcare courses, because
childcare jobs are seen as female
Subject counselling - teachers may channel boys and girls into different subject choices in
relation to their own gender stereotypes
Learning resources may include gender stereotypes - for example, science may be
represented as a mainly male activity
Gender of teachers - for example, males may pick science as a subject because the teachers
are more likely to be men
3. Evaluate sociological explanations of the role of education in
transmitting ideas and values. [30 marks]
Functionalists
Durkheim: social solidarity and specialist skills: Durkheim identified two main functions of
education: creating social solidarity and teaching specialist skills. Durkheim argues that
society needs a sense of solidarity. Without it, social life and cooperation would be
impossible because each individual would pursue their own selfish desires.
o Evaluation: . Sociologists have criticised Durkheim’s ideas by pointing out that the
education system does not teach specialised skills adequately. For example, the
Wolf review of vocational education (2011) claims that high quality apprenticeships
are rare and up to a third of 16-19 year olds are on courses that do not lead to
higher education or good jobs.
Parsons: meritocracy:
4. Evaluate the claim that marketisation and privatisation policies have
increased educational inequality. [ 30 marks) BCENCP
1944 Butler Act: brought in the Tripartite System which was based on the principles of
meritocracy. This involved children being selected and allocated to one of 3 different types
of secondary school, supposedly according to their aptitude and abilities. This was based on
a test called the 11+ exam.
